Transfer News: Manchester City’s Craig Bellamy signs a one-year loan deal at Cardiff City
Manchester City’s out-of-favour striker Craig Bellamy has finally completed a loan move to Football League Championship side Cardiff City. The deal is believed to be for the whole season. Bellamy, who is also the captain of the Welsh national side, said that he is pleased to be coming home.
The front-man, who seemed very happy after completing the move, said that he has no hard feelings against Manchester City and Roberto Mancini after he was dropped from the 25-man squad by the manager.
He said that he is very pleased because he would finally get a chance to stay with his family. Bellamy added that he knows that it may not be the ideal time for him (at the age of 31) to be playing in the Championship. However, he said that perhaps this is something that would work for him for the last few years of his career, and he would seek to play for a bigger club next season. He said that he has not stayed home since he was 15, and the attraction of staying home and also playing football was just too much for him to pass on.
Craig Bellamy was introduced to the Cardiff fans during a news conference at the Bluebirds’ stadium (Cardiff City Stadium) in Cardiff. He said that his aim this season would be to help the team make their way to the Premier League next season. Cardiff narrowly missed out last season and looks good to once again challenge for a top two finish.
In general terms, a move from the Premier League to the Championship is seen as a step backwards, but Bellamy reiterated that he is happy to have made the move and is very excited to play for his hometown. He said that having played football all over Europe for long, he has learned a lot, but till now he has not been able to offer his services to his city of birth and would love to contribute to Cardiff in every way possible. He said that a player’s ability is tested when he is able to perform at all levels. Bellamy said that the incentive of helping his hometown to the Premier League is much more exciting than playing in Europe for him.
He said that there is no job that can be deemed as small in stature; instead, it is the player who can make it special, and he said that he is fully committed to the cause and would be satisfied when he is able to achieve the goal of the club at the end of the season.
Bellamy said that the time he spent at City was fantastic; he added that when he joined Manchester City, the club was in a transitional phase and he enjoyed an excellent spell with The Blues. He went on to say that there is no doubt that the club is going up in the league and the players they are signing are fantastic. He did not rule out a return to Manchester City and said that one can never say never, and added that City still holds his contract and if things work out well in the next season, he may opt to play for The Citizens.
Bellamy added that while staying in Cardiff, he would also be close to the happenings in the Wales International team. He said that one of his targets is also to make sure that Wales make it to the European Championships in 2012, and he would do all he can as the captain to take his team to the elite European competition.
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