I got injured in a fight with a United fan - the next day Roberto Mancini told me to leave Man City
When Manchester City signed Craig Bellamy in their first transfer window since the 2008 takeover, it was a statement of intent. He had played under Sir Bobby Robson, Rafa Benitez and then-Blues boss Mark Hughes in a stellar career to date - but had never truly settled.
A divisive character, Bellamy had fallen out with the likes of Graeme Souness and Benitez, but clearly had the talent. Signed for £14m and re-united with Hughes, the early signs were good as he scored on debut against former club Newcastle, a match that is repeated this weekend when the pair meet in the last eight of the FA Cup.
Hughes would be sacked, however, and his replacement Roberto Mancini immediately took a dislike to Bellamy's reluctance to train twice a day due to his own fitness plan to manage long-standing injuries. It would prove his downfall at City, with the fallout from a fight with a Manchester United fan proving the final straw.
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Bellamy arrived at City in January 2009 alongside other big names Nigel de Jong, Shay Given and Wayne Bridge as part of the Abu Dhabi United Group's first full window, with Hughes talking up the Wales international's quality and untouched potential despite his huge transfer fees and collection of big clubs. He had left Newcastle after falling out with Souness (including a physical altercation in training) and accusing the Scot of lying.
Souness vowed Bellamy wouldn't play for him again, with the Welshman banned from training after refusing to apologise. He was sent out on loan to Celtic under Martin O'Neill and Souness later
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