Aleksandar Kolarov Ponders His Manchester City Future

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The future of Manchester City FC left-back, Aleksandar Kolarov, has been the subject of intense speculation this summer. Juventus have been linked with a move which would see the Serbian return to Serie A, a league in which he has a good reputation after a successful spell with Lazio earlier in his career.

Reports in the Daily Star earlier this week suggest Kolarov is considering a future away from the club, with the player quoted as saying:

I want to stay in Manchester, but it’s only logical that should I not be given any space in the team then I’ll have to evaluate a few things. It is nice to know that an important and prestigious club such as Juventus like me, but I’m not the only person who will have a say on my future.

If something is to happen then it will be decided by the two clubs first. What I can say is that I was happy in Italy and I like your football.

Kolarov is a player disliked by many City fans after some dreadful performances for the club since his £17 million move from Lazio in the summer of 2010. For such a high fee, supporters expected one of the best full-backs in the world, yet Kolarov has failed to live up to expectations.

He his slow, poor defensively, and will often shoot from impossible areas of the pitch when better options are available to him. His positional sense is awful and he struggles to link up intelligently with City’s attacking players when he tries to get forward.

The one area of Kolarov’s game which some argue has been impressive is his free-kick taking, but an ability to hit a dead ball is by no means enough to justify a player’s place in the side.

There was a hostility towards Kolarov from the City fans last season, resulting in the player being booed during the final home match of the season against Norwich. It would be better for everyone if he was transferred to a new club where he can attempt to regain his form. Kolarov represents the worst signing of the Mancini era and moving him must surely be a priority for City’s management team.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report’s lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @TypicalCity