Gaël Clichy has taken a parting shot at Arsenal by claiming that he left the club for Manchester City because they do not have the strength and depth to win silverware.
The France left back completed a £7 million move to City last night after passing a medical and signing a four-year contract worth £90,000 a week.
He could not resist a dig at his former club, who have gone six seasons without winning a trophy, by criticising the depth of Arsène Wenger’s squad. “I joined City because I wanted to win a lot of things,” Clichy said. “Last season with Arsenal started well and we just collapsed at the end of the season after the Carling Cup final defeat by Birmingham City.
“We had a few players out and it’s difficult for a team to cope without Robin van Persie and Cesc Fàbregas at the same time. As a team you need a big squad if you want to go a long way. That’s why I joined City because I wanted to win a lot of things. You always progress with competition for places.”
Clichy’s comments contradicted remarks made shortly after Emmanuel Adebayor left Arsenal for City in July 2009, when he suggested that players move to City for the money.
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“If you are a player who thinks only about money, then you could end up at Manchester City,” he said. “You have to think if you want to play for a big club and have your image, or if you want to play for a good club and earn big money.”
City also hope to complete the £6 million purchase of another defender, Stefan Savic, from Partizan Belgrade in the next 72 hours, providing the centre half is granted a work permit. Samir Nasri is another target, although City face competition from Manchester United for the Arsenal midfield player.