More Bad News for Newcastle United: N’Zogbia Refusing To Play for Kinnear

This week hasn't been too kind to Newcastle United.

First, they lost striker Michael Owen for around six to eight weeks. Midfielder Joey Barton was injured as well and will be out for eight weeks or so.

Second, Newcastle is fighting relegation and is in serious danger of going downhill.

And then today, Charles N'Zogbia declared he will never play for Newcastle again while manager Joe Kinnear is in charge. This has come about because, while doing an interview, Kinnear mispronounced his name and called him "Insomnia."

Newcastle wants to keep N'Zogbia, but many have speculated N'Zogbia wants to leave, and that he will use any excuse to engineer a move to another club. Teams thought to be interested in him include Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais.

In a statement today, N'Zogbia apologized to fans for wanting to leave the club.

"However, having been insulted by Joe Kinnear, I will never play for him again while he remains Newcastle manager," he added. "The club is aware that there are offers on the table for me and they should accept one of them."

Kinnear released a statement rebuffing the claims.

"I couldn't believe it when I was told Charles had issued a statement claiming he was insulted, apparently for nothing more than me mispronouncing his name in a post-match interview at Manchester City," he said. "OK, I got a little tongue-tied, but if I had a pound for every time I've mispronounced a player's name down the years, then I'd be a very wealthy man indeed.

"There have already been plenty of quotes attributed to Charles during January, saying he is interested in leaving for other clubs. But the truth is we haven't received a formal offer for him.

"Sadly, this just smacks of a desperate attempt to engineer a move away from Newcastle United, a club that gave Charles the chance to play in the Premier League and which has rewarded him handsomely during his time at St James' Park."

This has to be one of the most ridiculous reasons you could possibly give to want to leave a club. It makes me think that something else has gone on behind the scenes that we don't know about.

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