Stevan Jovetic said he decided to stay at Manchester City rather than returning to Italy.
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The Montenegro striker was a target for Inter Milan after struggling in an injury-hit first season at the Etihad Stadium following a 22 million-pound move Fiorentina.
But manager Manuel Pellegrini has been adamant he wants to keep the forward and Jovetic said he resisted pressure to go back to Italy so he can show what he can do in England.
He told Sky Sport Italia: "Now I feel everyone's confidence, so I'm staying here. Many of my friends from Italy called me, but I decided to stay here and prove who I am. I'm fine there [at City], we will see in the future."
Jovetic only made two league starts in his debut year at City but has begun the preseason campaign in fine form, scoring twice in Sunday's 5-1 win over AC Milan, to earn him Pellegrini's praise.
And City colleague Aleksandar Kolarov, a 2010 signing from Lazio, has been the subject of regular rumours suggesting he could return to Serie A.
But the Serbian put pen to paper on an extended deal in England earlier in the summer and is convinced his future lies in Manchester.
Kolarov told Sky Sport Italia: "I have extended my contract and I remain here.
"In the past I had been linked to Roma, Inter Milan and Juventus, and instead, I was one step away from another Italian team. Now I have no doubt about my stay."