SOCCER ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has told Republic of Ireland international Shay Given he can leave the club in January but demanded he remains committed until the transfer window reopens.
Speaking after City’s 2-0 win at Wigan yesterday Mancini admitted he understood the concerns of Given, who said this week he was frustrated by his lack of first-team opportunities.
Mancini said: “I have a lot of respect for Shay and I told him the situation before the finish of the (transfer) market. I told him. ‘Shay, you can choose. I hope that you stay here but I respect your decision and if you want to leave you can.’
“He decided to stay here and until January he must stay here.
“I understand his frustration but I need that Shay stays here and puts in 100 per cent. In January if he decides to leave I respect his decision.”
Given has confirmed that he will seek a loan move if he cannot wrestle the number one jersey back from Joe Hart at Manchester City. Upon his return to Eastlands, Roberto Mancini handed him the number one spot – meaning Given has been left on the bench.
“It’s very, very frustrating. I know it doesn’t matter what I do on the training pitch, I won’t be playing at the weekend. If Im flying around like Clark Kent in goals, I still won’t play on Saturday. That can be demoralising, he said.
“We’ll see what happens come January and hopefully if the situation’s the same I can go on loan and try and get some games in.
“I wouldn’t mind where a loan was and wouldn’t rule out abroad if it was a good club and a good team, no disrespect to a club thats fighting relegation and getting pummelled every week”
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