Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic has been left out of their Champions League squad, and will play no further part in the competition this season.
As a result of the Citizens’ breach of Financial Fair Play rules last season, coach Manuel Pellegrini is permitted to name only 16 foreign players for the knockout stages, rather than the 17 available to the rest of Europe’s elite.
The arrival of Ivory Coast star Wilfried Bony in a €33 million deal meant that City had one more foreign player in their squad than allowed, and the decision was made to cut former Fiorentina forward Jovetic from the squad, as confirmed by the website of UEFA.
The decision is sure to fuel growing rumours regarding the player’s future, as the 25-year-old has featured in just 21 league games since his move to the English Premier League champions in July 2013.
Jovetic’s European exclusion has come in spite of the Montenegro international making appearances in four of City’s six Champions League ties so far this season.
