Craig Bellamy joins Cardiff City on loan from Manchester City
Craig Bellamy has agreed to join Cardiff City on loan. The Welsh club has called a press conference for 3pm when the move will be announced.
Bellamy announced his joy at completing the move as Cardiff confirmed the deal: "I'm thrilled to be coming back home to Cardiff and am excited at the prospect of wearing the shirt and playing for the club I've supported since I was a boy. I'll be working hard with my new teammates to bring success to the club and look forward to our next Championship game on Saturday.
"I'm sure that all City fans will play their part in driving us forward this year. It has been my dream to play my part in taking my home town club to the Premier League, which would be fantastic for the football club, the city of Cardiff and Wales."
The Cardiff manager, Dave Jones, said: "Bringing Craig to Cardiff is another big step in the development of this football club and I am delighted that he has agreed to join us on a season long loan. Like recent additions Jason Koumas and Seyi Olofinjana, Craig is a great talent and adds to the quality players that we have here.
"We will continue to work on taking the next steps as a club and hope that all Cardiff City supporters join us in welcoming Craig by turning up in high numbers this season."
Bellamy's move to Cardiff comes after clashes with the Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, and senior Eastlands employees over the past few days. These led to a ban from the club and exclusion from the training ground as City actively sought to offload the player.
Bellamy's last eight months at the Manchester club have been marked by controversy and tension. Among other events, Mancini was said to find it "disrespectful and unprofessional" when Bellamy, walking off the pitch after the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur that ended City's hopes of reaching the Champions League last season, high-fived the Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp.
Then, last week, Bellamy accused Mancini of not speaking to him for six months, an allegation that was strenuously denied. Details of the player's new deal with Cardiff are expected to emerge shortly.