Bellamy speaks to 5 live

Craig Bellamy did a revealing and personal interview on BBC Radio 5 live, and had some interesting things to say about his time at City.

Chronologically:

- Spurs agreed a fee with West Ham before we did, and when we matched the offer Gianluca Nani orchestrated an auction between us and Spurs, in the knowledge that we would pay above the odds for him.

- When he arrived at City he had a special fitness coach, Raymond Verheijen, who kept him fit. This was very important to Bellamy, who said that at City he 'just felt free': free from fear of injuries, and free to play football for the first time in years. 'Everthing about me felt immense'.

- Nothing was said about Mark Hughes' sacking, which was a shame. But he said that when Roberto Mancini came in his got promises from Garry Cook, Brian Marwood and even Khaldoon that he could stick to his personal fitness plan.

- But then Mancini brought in his double-sessions, which were so much of a strain on Bellamy's knees that they would limit his ability to perform on weekends. This led to the famous argument when Mancini told him to 'go home for the rest of the season'. He did not sound too bitter about this, saying that Mancini 'was always going to do it his own way.'

- Then this summer. He sounded put out (understandably) at being cut from the squad and asked to train with the reserves. He said City proposed he go to Wolfsburg as part of an Edin Dzeko deal but he only had two preferences: Champions League or Cardiff City. Garry Cook told him that someone above him (Bellamy suggested Sheikh Mansour himself) blocked his move to Spurs, and Bellamy implied United were in for him but the prospect of a move was never realistic.