Matija Nastasic: I have no problem with Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini
Tuesday 13 January 2015 17:26, UK
Matija Nastasic has told Sky Sports News HQ he is leaving Manchester City with no bitterness towards Manuel Pellegrini.
The Serbia defender will join Schalke on loan until the summer if he passes a medical at their warm-weather training camp in Doha later this week.
Nastasic, who could make the move permanent at the end of the season, was a regular under Roberto Mancini in his first year in the Premier League, but his opportunities dwindled following Manuel Pellegrini's appointment and his only City appearance this season came in August's Community Shield.
Asked whether there was a problem with Pellegrini he said: "No, everything was alright. It was hard for me - in six months I didn't play one game. I wanted to go because for my career it's best to play a lot of games."
Nastasic revealed he chose Schalke ahead of "a couple of options" but would not say whether he had rejected Premier League clubs.
His decision to move to Germany came after conversations with Schalke's manager Roberto di Matteo.
He said: "At the moment it's a loan, and at the end of the season we'll see what happens. I already spoke with (Di Matteo) and he told me about the club and the team."
Nastasic will be available for the rest of Schalke's Champions League campaign - starting with a tie against Real Madrid - but wished City all the best for the rest of the season in Europe and domestically.
"I hope they win the Premier League and go as high as possible in the Champions League," he said.
Watch Schalke's Champions League tie with Real Madrid live on Sky Sports. Coverage of the first leg begins at 7pm on Sky Sports 5 on February 18.
