Manchester City appear to have forgotten Stevan Jovetic after they brought in Wilfried Bony from Swansea City for around £ 28 million.
The Ivory Coast international became the most extensive player of the January transfer window, but many have questioned the necessity of the striker at the Etihad stadium. City had just signed Jovetic from Fiorentina in the summer for £ 24 million. The Montenegrin striker was seen as the perfect replacement for Alvaro Negredo, who moved to Spanish football initially on a loan deal. The 25-year-old, though, has featured rarely in the City first-team.
After making just nine Premier League starts so far,Jovetic was heavily linked with a return to Italian football towards the end of January. This did not happen andJovetic now remains part of the City team at least for the next six months.Jovetic is unlikely to get any game time after the arrival of Bony. The 25-year-old has now opened up on the situation and has criticised manager Manuel Pellegrini for not providing him with enough opportunities. Ironically, Pellegrini was the manager who had signed the player from Fiorentina.
“I deserve to play in the Champions League. I know that.The manager has killed me with this decision. I feel I deserve my place and other people have told me the same.People have told me I am a great player, but it is clear that the manager doesn’t think the same way.I am very disappointed, even now. I don’t think it was a good decision – or the right decision. I know that I deserve to be on the list. I told the manager this, but he didn’t want to listen to me,” said Jovetic.Jovetic became the player to be sacrificed so that Bony could be included in the Champions League squad for the knockout stages.