The City captain was preparing to meet up with the Republic of Ireland squad on Monday when news emerged of the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment's take-over at Eastlands and the subsequent transfer frenzy it sparked.

That flurry of activity ended spectacularly when, having failed in their attempt to hijack Dimitar Berbatov's move to arch-rivals Manchester United, the new owners snatched Brazilian superstar Robinho from under the noses of Chelsea with a British record £32.4million bid.

Asked what his reaction was when he first heard the news, Dunne said: "I just laughed, really, because it was all out for Berbatov and then they seemed to be bidding for everybody.

"I just couldn't understand what was going on.

"It's just bizarre, a bit surreal. I was just watching Sky Sports News and it came up, and that was it.

"I have just heard and seen it. I have not been at the club since then, I have just seen everything in the papers, and it just seems so surreal."

Surreal or not, Dunne can expect to return to a very different club when he completes the first leg of Ireland's latest World Cup qualification mission in Montenegro on Wednesday evening.

Having seen new boss Mark Hughes hold firm during a summer of speculation, he is confident the massive cash injection the Welshman can expect will help City mount a genuine challenge to the perennial top four in the Barclays Premier League.

He said: "I think it's inevitable. Anybody with that sort of money to spend, players will come - and the more successful you get, the bigger the players who will come.

"It's just great. Rather than the big four clubs always dominating everything, you have got another club who can go in and compete in the transfer market."

Dunne believes the remarkable developments of the last week have rewarded Hughes for his patience and strength of character after weeks of rumours that players could be sold behind his back, a factor cited in the departures of top-flight counterparts Kevin Keegan and Alan Curbishley in recent days.

But the defender spoke of his admiration for a manager who stuck to his guns throughout all the talk.

He said: "Any negative talk around the place, the manager was brilliant. He just said he was in complete control, and that was it.

"The way things worked out, he was proved correct. He held his ground at the club and bought who he wanted and started to build a good squad previous to this take-over.

"It's great for the manager to have that financial backing."

But before Dunne returns to Eastlands for his first taste of an exciting new world, he will hope to take another step on the road to fulfilling a dream at international level in Montenegro on Wednesday evening.

The Republic got their Group 8 campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 win over Georgia in Mainz on Saturday, and will hope to head back to Dublin with a maximum six points to give themselves the firmest of foundations for a charge towards South Africa 2010.

Dunne, 29 later this month, knows there may not be too many more chances for him to play at the World Cup finals, and is determined to make the most of his latest opportunity.

He said: "I would love to. It is probably my last chance for a World Cup, and that is something I would love to do.

"It is winning games like Saturday's and Wednesday's that will hopefully get us there."

ends