Roberto Mancini denies snubbing out of favour Wayne Bridge

1. Bridge seems unable to fill even a small gap for Mancini: How many Manchester City fullbacks have to be unavailable before Wayne Bridge gets a game? This weekend Alexsandar Kolarov and Gaël Clichy are out, but Bridge seems no nearer a start th (Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has rejected Wayne Bridge's claim he refuses to talk to the defender and revealed he said two years ago that the former Chelsea man had no future at the club.

Mancini recently questioned Bridge's motives for remaining at City, hinting that the player's salary of £90,000 a week salary was the overriding factor.

Bridge denied this and revealed his discontent at Mancini's managerial techniques.

Now the City boss has hit back once more.

"Bridge said I don't speak to him. That is not true," said Mancini.

"I told Wayne two years ago that he was not part of our plans and if he wanted to find a good solution he should go somewhere else."

Mancini said he hoped Bridge and fellow defender Nedum Onuoha would leave City during next month's transfer window.

In addition, the City boss said it was possible Carlos Tevez could leave the club within 10 days if AC Milan accepted they needed to buy the Argentina star rather than take him on loan.

"We hope AC Milan want to take him," said Mancini.

"It could be close in one week or 10 days, but I don't know if it is possible.

"We can close this situation but they cannot take him on loan."

PA