| Barton suspended after training ground scrap
Manchester City have suspended Joey Barton for the rest of the season after the volatile midfielder got involved in a training ground fist-fight with team-mate Ousmane Dabo, who was taken to a hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
24-year-old Barton, who has been involved in acts of indiscipline in the past and recently raised quite a few eyebrows by criticising Three Lions stars, could have well played his last match for Stuart Pearce’s side as the Mirror has reported that the England international’s City career is over.
Everton, who have been interested in Barton for some time, and the promoted Sunderland are likely to trigger a £5.5million release clause in his contract.
Meanwhile, Barton's agent Willie McKay, referring to the scuffle, said: "He (Barton) was defending himself - but because it is Joey it makes headlines."
A City source described the scene, saying: "It was incredible. Joey was over Dabo and still hitting him while he was on the floor." |