A knifeman stabbed a shopper at the Arndale following a bust-up over a car.
Ibrahim Ahmed, 21, knifed the 24-year-old man on a busy Sunday afternoon in the shopping centre after the victim left Footasylum.
Ahmed was told he was 'incredibly fortunate' he didn't cause more serious injuries.
The pair bumped into each other before the attack and exchanged words.
Ahmed, from Ardwick, said he had been carrying a knife for protection.
He was chased by the victim after the attack and said he dumped the knife in a gutter.
Manchester Crown Court heard the pair previously had a disagreement over a car.
The victim had given Ahmed £500 for a deposit on a vehicle, but not long after it was seized by police, prosecutor Bob Sastry said.
The pair bumped into each other at about 4.30pm on Sunday, August 2, as the victim left the Footasylum store.
They had an argument and the victim could see Ahmed had a knife.
In a split second attack, Ahmed stabbed him twice, while they were in a concourse of the shopping centre.
He suffered a small wound to his stomach, and another wound to his back.
The victim, who later went to hospital, followed Ahmed before he escaped.
Ahmed put the knife down a gutter as he ran away.
He was arrested at his home days later, where claimed he'd been acting in self-defence.
Ahmed told officers he had a knife because he felt he needed to protect himself, Mr Sastry said.
He has been in prison ever since the incident.
"I deal with lots of young men who come before me having used knives," Ahmed was told by Judge Nicholas Dean QC.
"A lot of them come before me charged with murder.
"You are incredibly fortunate that the wounds you inflicted were really quite minor.
"I hope that you have learned your lesson, having spent time in custody."
Ahmed, of Astley Road, Ardwick, was sentenced to 16 months in jail.
As he has already served eight months in prison, he is due to be released soon as prisoners ordinarily serve half of their sentence in jail.
He will remain on licence for the rest of his sentence.
Defending, Nicholas Barraclough said Ahmed had not received any visits from friends or family during his time in prison, due to the coronavirus.
He said prison has been 'quite a shock', and that Ahmed is remorseful.
