Now United's Serbian defender is focused on ambitions and the next on the list is to stop Robinho and Co at Eastlands.
"I scored in my first ever Belgrade derby and I had only been in the team for three matches. That really was my dream," Nemanja told M.E.N. Sport.
"I was a massive fan of Red Star and as a young boy I just wanted to play for them. When I scored in that match my dreams were over. I had done it.
"I remember thinking: `I have scored for Red Star against Partizan - that's me finished. I have achieved what I wanted to do! I have done everything!'
"After that my dreams finished and from then on it was just ambitions to improve every game and win as many trophies as I could and be a success. That's what my ambitions are all about now. I don't have dreams."
Last season United lost both derbies to City at Eastlands and Old Trafford but still claimed the Premier League title.
For Vidic that summed up the difference between the Manchester clash and the Belgrade dust-up.
"It is different in Serbia because it is all about those two teams Red Star and Partizan," he said.
"If you lose that game you are a bit nervous about whether you will win the league. Lose in Belgrade and you know your local rivals are going to be ahead of you in the title race and you are going to have some catching up to do.
"It is a bit different in England because here you have big games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal which are important for the league. It is not about two matches against your local rivals.
"Don't get me wrong it is nice to win the derby, you don't want to lose obviously but our mind is set on winning the league. You want to win the derbies but it is all about the trophies as last season proved."
With City's Abu Dhabi-backed cash the Manchester derby could eventually return to the glory days of the late 60s when the Reds and Blues contested the title as well for a brief period.
Vidic continues: "I have seen a few clips of Robinho on TV. I saw his quality in Spain with Real Madrid and he's playing well for City. He has scored a few goals and has got a lot of confidence.
"Robinho is a great player but without his team-mates he won't make a big difference. It is not all about the one player.
"He has good players and a good team around him. City have a lot of quality. They are growing as a team. Robinho is very good. But we mustn't forget the other players.
"If we concentrate and play well then we can cope with City and can top them."
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