Man City Transfer News: Vincent Kompany To Barcelona?
Telegraph. The Belgian defender angered Mancini last month when he disobeyed the Italian's orders to pull out of the national team's World Cup qualifier with Macedonia. Kompany had not played for two months prior through a calf injury but featured for all 90 minutes of Belgium's midweek clash, despite having an important encounter with Newcastle coming up three days later. Mancini then blasted the centre-back for putting country before club and demanded he put his priorities in order. He said at the time:
I dont want Vinny not to go to the national team, but when he is injured, it is impossible. It is not right for 60 days he didnt play for us, and we did everything, and then he goes to play for the national team. If he has another injury, or if he is not ready to play for us on Saturday, and we lose him for another month, it is not right either for the player or for the manager.Kompany is understood to be frustrated that his manager publicly criticised him, and also at the treatment he was receiving on the managers advice to cure the injury that kept him out for two months. Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad claimed the player was happier working with national team physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck than the club's own medical staff. Now Barcelona and a host of other top European sides are hoping to take advantage of the duo's frosty relationship by making a summer bid for the star, who is widely recognised as one of the best centre-backs in world football. Barcelona are understood to be particularly interested, and have been tracking him ever since Pep Guardiola's period in charge. But the former Nou Camp boss, who takes over at Bayern Munich in the summer, will also be watching developments closely from the Allianz Arena as he looks to stamp his mark on the squad. Real Madrid are also said to maintain an interest in the City star. Kompany has become an iconic figure at the Etihad since his move from Hamburg in 2008. He has been an integral figure in the sides that won the FA Cup and Premier League over the last three seasons and has made 192 appearances for the Sky Blues.