Thanks for the Memories: 10 Players Who Will Leave Manchester City This Summer
After a season of success at Manchester City, this summer may see an upheaval in the squad as Roberto Mancini looks to strengthen for next term.
A number of players will be deemed surplus to requirements as they are not up to the standard needed to play in the Champions League.
Or they just need a new challenge at this stage in their career.
These 10 players are of a high quality and have made a difference to the club in their time here.
So if they do end up leaving, all we can say is thanks for the memories and all the best in the future!
Shay Given
1 of 10
Shay Given is rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, even though he has spent the entire season on the City bench.
It is homage to Joe Hart’s progression that Given was No. 2 this season, especially when you consider that Roberto Mancini once described Given as “one of the top 5 ‘keepers in the world.”
But he cannot spend another year on City’s bench; he needs to play and make sure he keeps his place in the Republic of Ireland.
The 35-year-old can still perform at the highest level and it would be unfair of City to keep hold of him.
Shay made over 50 appearances for the club and richly deserved his winner’s medal for FA Cup this season.
Nedum Onuoha
2 of 10
"Big Ned" has been on loan at Sunderland for the past season.
The versatile defender came up through the City youth academy and made his debut for the club in 2004.
Onuoha, who was born in Nigeria, moved to Manchester as a child.
He was an international sprinter during his childhood and clocked times of around 11 seconds in the 100 metre dash.
The defender is strong, obviously very quick and is good in the air.
Scorer of a wonder goal for Sunderland against Chelsea this season, the former England under-21 international could return to the Stadium of Light next season.
Possible destination: Sunderland
Jerome Boateng
3 of 10
I wrote a piece of the possible departure of Jerome Boateng earlier in the week.
It seems that the German international could be headed home, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich set to sign Boateng.
The defender can play right across the back line and has been unlucky with injury during his first season in the Premier League.
Signed for £10.4 million at the end of last season for SV Hamburger, it looked as though City had signed a player who would be there for a long time.
For some reason it hasn't worked out for the 22-year-old Boateng, and when the biggest club in Germany come calling it is hard to turn down.
Possible destination: Bayern Munich
Wayne Bridge
4 of 10
Wayne Bridge spent the past season on loan with relegated West Ham United, and his time with Manchester City looks to be over.
Bridge has suffered massively with injury problems since his move from Chelsea in 2009, never really having a run in the side.
The England international has at times looked a solid enough left back, but on other occasions he has looked out of his depth.
He will always be remembered by City fans for refusing to shake John Terry’s hand before the Chelsea game in 2010.
Bridge is an honest Premier League footballer and will find another club this summer.
Possible destination: Blackburn Rovers
Shaun Wright-Phillips
5 of 10
Whatever happens this summer, Shaun Wright-Phillips will always be a legend at Manchester City.
The first one to come through the famed academy at Carrington in 1999, Wright-Phillips is a special player in the eyes of City fans.
In his second spell with the club after returning from Chelsea in 2008, Wright-Phillips has struggled to break into the side on a regular basis.
The arrival of Adam Johnson brought the end to SWP’s starting berth.
The England international is part of the furniture at Eastlands and would like to see out his career with Roberto Mancini’s men.
But he is only 29, and he could prove to be an astute signing for a Premier League team chasing a European place.
Possible destination: Everton or Bolton Wanderers
Craig Bellamy
6 of 10
After having a great season in 2009-10, Craig Bellamy was loaned out last year to hometown club Cardiff City.
The Welshman had one to many crossed words with Roberto Mancini, and he felt his attitude could be detrimental to team moral.
A player who is still more than capable of playing at the top-level, Bellamy made a decision to drop a division to try and help the club he supported as a boy. He subsequently missed out, if only narrowly.
The former Welsh captain has stated that he will only play for City in the Premier League or he goes back to Cardiff to try again.
Expect another loan deal with the Bluebirds to be completed before the start of next season.
Possible destination: Cardiff City
Emmanuel Adebayor
7 of 10
The move to Manchester City has not really worked out for Adebayor,
Always controversial, he struggled to make an impact after struggling with injury and suspensions.
Although scoring 15 goals in just 34 appearances, it never worked out under Mancini.
After the signing of Edin Dzeko in January he slipped further down the pecking order.
A move to Real Madrid was sanctioned in the same transfer window and he seemed settled with Jose Mourinho’s men.
It does not look as if the deal will be made permanent though, and a move to another country could be on the cards.
Possible destination: Fenerbache
Roque Santa Cruz
8 of 10
The Paraguayan was signed by Mark Hughes after he had performed for him whilst at Blackburn, but he was never given a chance, probably because he was not good enough to play in the side.
A big-money signing, he was injured from the start and pretty much stayed that way for the duration of his stay with the Blues.
He re-signed for Blackburn on loan last January, but again he suffered with injuries and failed to make an impact.
Santa Cruz needs first-team football and another chance to rebuild his career, but he is not going to get that chance at Manchester City and it his time for him to move on.
Possible destination: Blackburn Rovers
Jo Silva
9 of 10
If the reported fee of £18 million is what Manchester City paid for Brazilian Jo, then I think somebody may have been laughing all the way to the bank.
Jo signed for CSKA Moscow in 2008, where he enjoyed a successful spell, scoring 30 goals in just over 50 appearances.
The Brazilian has looked way out of his depth at times during his all too brief Manchester City career.
He is one of the players who will be leaving this summer as City look to enhance their front line even further.
It’s been a funny relationship with the City fans and he is well liked by the Blues faithful, I suspect that they feel sorry for him though.
Possible destination: Back to Russia, the place of his biggest success
Felipe Caicedo
10 of 10
The forgotten man of Manchester City, signed from Basle of £5.2 million, the powerful Ecuadorian has developed over the last two years and could be a big hit within European football.
He’s not going to get this chance at Manchester City though.
After a successful season with Levante in Spain, he has put himself right in the shop window.
A number of clubs from Eastern Europe have looked at Caicedo, and he has earned a move and hopefully makes the right choice.
Never given the chance at City, Caicedo could be a big name in the future.
