Wayne Bridge has confirmed he wants out of Manchester City as the ex-England international looks to regain regular first-team football.
City defender eager to leave Etihad for regular football
Wayne Bridge has confirmed he wants out of Manchester City as the ex-England international looks to regain regular first-team football.
Bridge, who spent the second half of last season with West Ham, has made one appearance for City this season in the Carling Cup.
The 31-year-old has been frozen out of the first team by manager Roberto Mancini and he is desperate to spend his weekends playing football.
Bridge has been linked with Arsenal while he has revealed he rejected the chance to move to Portsmouth due to his Southampton connection.
The former Chelsea man is believed to be seeking his release from City in January and he insists the next move has to be right for his career.
Entitled
"My next move has to be right for me. I'd rather play three games a week than none, but I'm entitled to leave," he told the
Independent.
"City claimed I'm only at the club for the money, but when it comes to the deal to let me go, it becomes about the money for them.
"The money thing hurts me because people think I'm just sat there picking it up. I come from a working-class background. I work hard. The club have made it difficult for me to leave and have not been supportive.
"There was a time when I could have gone to Portsmouth on loan, but I had to say no - my dad's Southampton and I grew up supporting them. Dad would never have spoken to me again.
"When I was at West Ham they [City] weren't keen on having me back, but they left it until the last minute in the summer.
"I want to go to a team where I can do well. I don't care where they are, I just want to do well for them."
Training
Bridge has been left training with City's youngsters for most of the season and he is surprised at his treatment, stating he has only ever known one player to be ostracised in such fashion.
The former Saints defender admits his form has not been up to scratch, although he feels that in turn he has not had a fair crack of the whip.
"Every now and then they call me over to train with the first team," he continued. "Ade [Emmanuel Adebayor], Bellers [Craig Bellamy], Nedum [Onuoha], Shay [Given] and me trained with the kids in pre-season.
"I accept that since I went to City I haven't played great. But I haven't had a fair chance. I've had injuries too. Last season I had a fractured toe, then I played when I didn't feel right and got another injury. I don't think I've been given a fair chance.
"When I was at Chelsea I was playing for a team where Ashley Cole was the best in the world and I still got games. It won't happen at City. There has never been an explanation, but it's obvious they don't want me.
"Mancini doesn't really speak to me, he doesn't really speak to any of the players. The only time I've known a player isolated like this was Winston Bogarde at Chelsea. Usually you still train with the first team, even when they want you out.'
"I've never caused trouble, I'm not that kind of character. There will be days when I'm frustrated - not depressed, but down. Training helps take my mind off the fact that I don't play.
"Some players are totally different to me - they would phone the manager and say things there and then. I just get on with things and hope they resolve themselves. Even when I'm playing I just like to get on with my own life. If I kicked up a fuss I might have got out easier.
"There have been times where the passion has gone and I feel like I've fallen out of love with the game because I don't get anything out of it. I don't enjoy it, I miss playing."
Frenzy
Bridge has won 36 caps for England and naturally he misses playing on the big stage, including missing out on the 2010 World Cup finals.
He made himself unavailable for selection in February 2010 after details about a relationship between Bridge's former partner Vanessa Perroncel and Chelsea defender John Terry were publicised.
Bridge is still not overly keen on talking about the events, stating he just wanted to be left alone, although he was thankful for the support he received
He added: "Everyone misses being an international when they don't play. It is the thing everyone wants to be - an England international. When you start playing professional football it is the next step.
"It has been difficult for me over the last couple of years football-wise - I have not played great and personal stuff that had gone on. I don't want to talk too much about it. I don't want to bring up the situation that happened because I didn't talk about it at the time and what's the point?
"If I had gone to the World Cup it would have been an absolute media frenzy. I probably could talk about it one day, but at this precise moment I don't think it is going to help me and I don't think it's going to help anyone else who was involved.
"I had never been in the press before. Then I was and everyone had an opinion about it. It was like I felt, "Just leave me to get on with it".
"Some were supportive and some weren't. That's just the way it is. But I got a lot of support and I am thankful for the support I did get. I can deal with it. Everyone was talking about it and I just didn't want to talk about it.
"At the time, (England manager) Fabio Capello called me two or three times but it wasn't right. My personal life has got better. I am happy at the moment and the football has got to get better in January."
