De Jong reveals City contract talks have stalled
Posted Sunday, July 24, 2011 by YAHOO Sport
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong revealed on Sunday that talks over a new contract with the Premier League club have broken down.
De Jong has only two years to run on his current deal and the Holland international had hoped to sign a contract extension before the start of the new season.
The 26-year-old has established himself as one of City's key figures since joining from Hamburg two years ago, but he is frustrated the club's hierarchy have opted to halt negotiations.
"There's no update on my contract because talks have stopped," he told The People.
"Maybe something will happen again when the season starts, but at the moment it is a little frustrating for me.
"I can't go into details other than to say that I couldn't reach an agreement with the club, so we will have to see what happens in the future.
"I was hoping that it would all be agreed this summer and that hasn't happened.
"It has frustrated me but I am a patient man and we will have to see what happens."
Meanwuile, De Jong's City team-mate Micah Richards has also revealed his frustration at the lack of opportunities he has had under England coach Fabio Capello.
The defender has made just one appearance under Capello, against France in November last year, since the Italian took over three years ago.
"I don't know why I'm not playing for England but that's something only Fabio Capello can answer," he told the Sunday Mirror.
"Why I haven't been given a chance I can't understand. When I came in against France I thought I did well, yet I was left out again for the next international.
"The manager has never explained his way of thinking to me and it has got to the point where I just don't think about the England thing any more.
"When I'm fit I feel I am as good as anyone not just in the Premier League or Europe, but in the world.
"People might say that I am arrogant, but when I am 100 per cent fit and fully focused then I am as good as anyone around."
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