Craig Bellamy was kicked out of Man City training for "asking a question"

Craig Bellamy was once kicked out of Manchester City training simply for asking a question, according to former teammate Wayne Bridge.

Bellamy signed for City from West Ham in a £14 million switch in a January window where the Blues also brought in Bridge, Nigel De Jong and Shay Given as their new owners splashed the cash.

The Welshman was brought in by compatriot Mark Hughes, who he had played under at Blackburn.

He played 51 times and scored 15 goals in his stint at the Etihad Stadium but didn't see eye-to-eye with Roberto Mancini, who replaced Hughes in December 2009.

Mancini won City's first trophy for 34 years before guiding the club to a first league title for 44 years but it's common knowledge that he was not liked by many of his players.

Ex City stars have talked about training sessions being boring and repetitive and a new anecdote from Bridge, who says he "hates" the Italian, has emerged.

The ex Chelsea man claims outspoken Bellamy was sent home during a shape session involving mannequins because he asked Mancini a question.

The former Inter and Zenit boss was offended by the query, leading to Bellamy being exiled.

Image: Alamy

"I just don't get how when you're in training and you're coming up against mannequins, we're going to do this, this and this," Bridge told the Daily Star.

"I remember one time Bellamy asked him a question and Bellamy was our best player at the time - and he sent him home. And that was Bellamy done!

"He basically said something like 'what happens if the centre-back goes this way?' Something like that. And he just told him to shut up and do what he is told.

"He just asked about what would happen if something happened and he wouldn't answer it. He thought Bellamy was disrespecting him, but he wasn't.

"He was one of the best trainers, he was great with the kids and I think he got a bit misunderstood sometimes.

"He would work his arse off for you and I think Mancini saw it as disrespect but it wasn't at all. Bellamy loves the game and would put his heart and soul into it."

Image: Alamy

Bellamy clashed with Mancini over training schedules upon his arrival at City as he felt the double sessions would take a toll on his body given his knee problems.

He left on loan for boyhood club Cardiff City in 2010 before re-signing for Liverpool the following year after being made to train with the reserves at City.

Bellamy is now on the coaching staff at Burnley, working with former City teammate Vincent Kompany.

Topics: Craig Bellamy, Manchester City, Roberto Mancini

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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