I regret how I behaved at Man City after I used Man United interest for better contract

Manchester City have had a high turnover of players during their time towards the top of English football and one former star has regrets about how things ended for him

Carabao Cup holders Newcastle United stand between Manchester City and a spot at Wembley in this year's final. The first leg of the semi-final clash takes place on Tuesday night and there is plenty of history between the two sides.

A number of players have represented both clubs over the years, with some making a bigger impact than others. Craig Bellamy certainly made a splash during spells at St James' Park and the Etihad Stadium, scoring 43 goals in 128 matches for Newcastle and hitting double-figures in his one full City season.

The Welsh forward has now moved into management and is in with a chance of leading his country to the World Cup 2026. It comes after an often fiery career in which he didn't spend more than four years at any one club, albeit one in which he briefly thrived with City and might in different circumstances played for rivals Manchester United.

He admitted to some regrets during his career, not least from during his spell in Manchester. He ended up leaving City before their run to Premier League glory in the 2011/12 season and, looking back at that spell, admitted he made it easy for manager Roberto Mancini to cast him aside.

Bellamy signed for City from West Ham when his fellow Welshman Mark Hughes was in the dugout. Hughes was dismissed midway through the 2009/10 season, though, with Italian boss Mancini taking his place.

After grabbing a goal and two assists in Hughes' last game in charge, Bellamy was in and out of the side under Mancini. He still scored four times in the second half of the season but didn't see eye to eye with the new boss.

"I don't understand why he managed me the way he did," Bellamy said of Mancini when reflecting on that spell. He compared Mancini unfavourably with Sir Bobby Robson, his manager at Newcastle, while still wondering whether he might have behaved differently despite the difference of opinion.

"He (Robson) wanted us to come in and cherish what we were doing," he added in an interview with the Daily Mail. "Mancini was different, but there was stuff I could have done differently, too.

"I could have been more open but when Sparky (Hughes) went, I shut down. I just wanted stuff to stay the same for me but I got a change of manager and routine. I just clammed up, didn't want to know. Typical.

"Mancini didn't have to persevere with me, because he could just go and get someone else and that's what happened. But I regret that. I could have made that work. That's one I messed up."

Bellamy spent the 2010/11 season on loan at Cardiff before making a permanent move to Liverpool. City signed Mario Balotelli in the summer of 2010 and Sergio Aguero the following year and the rest is history.

One thing Bellamy didn't regret, however, was using interest from United to secure improved terms during his Newcastle stint. In an exclusive interview with The Mirror in 2013, he claimed his adviser spoke with United over a potential move from City in 2010 only for the latter to veto a deal.

Some eight years before that, United were interested in a swoop only for the star to stay at Newcastle. “Actually, there was a link with Sir Alex [Ferguson] as far back as 2002, when my representatives went to see him at United’s training ground, with a view to a move going ahead," Bellamy said.

“But Newcastle had just qualified for the Champions League, I loved playing for Sir Bobby Robson and had just been offered a new contract there. To be honest, I used an inquiry from United to hold out for a better deal.”

Bellamy did have some misgivings about his Newcastle spell ending in similar circumstances to his City spell. There, Graeme Souness was the manager with whom his relationship soured, prompting a loan spell at Celtic and then a permanent move to Blackburn.

"I only ever clashed with one of my managers and that was Graeme Souness at Newcastle," the forward would later tell Sky Sports' Big Debate. "I felt like I had the supporters behind me and he never got a job after Newcastle so... I didn’t like the way we were playing, I didn’t like the way he was using me, I didn’t like the players he was bringing in compared to where we were. I could see us going downhill very, very quick.

"I hugely regret it now. I wouldn’t say I was unprofessional, but I should have known my place. As I should have known my role and as a player I should be doing what the manager wants, even if I don’t like it.

"It came to breaking point between the two of us and I should have just shut my mouth and got on with it. I learned very quickly that there was only ever going to be one winner in this."