Former City star Johnson axed
BIG TIME ... this picture of a bloated Michael Johnson emerged on Twitter
Last Updated: 16th January 2013
MICHAEL JOHNSON’S amazing fall from grace is complete after Manchester City finally gave up on him.
The midfielder was once heralded as the new Colin Bell.
But a catalogue of injuries and questionable lifestyle have left him on the football scrapheap at 24.
A photo of the one-time whizkid posted on Twitter shocked fans and former team-mates.
Johnson looked red-faced, bloated and a million miles away from the player many tipped to be an England superstar.
HOT PROSPECT ... Michael Johnson competes with Man Utd's Carlos Tevez in August 2007
Johnson signed a five-year contract worth £6.5million in 2008 but he played just four Premier League games after that, costing City around £1.65m an appearance.
Former City team-mate Joey Barton tweeted: “Just read about young Michael Johnson at Man City. So sad. Had the world at his feet. ‘That’s what too much pressure/£, can do to young lads.”
Johnson joined City from Everton as a 16-year-old in 2004 and made his debut two years later.
Former City boss Sven Goran Eriksson once said he would not swap Johnson for any midfielder in the land — even Steven Gerrard.
And Eriksson’s successor as City manager, Mark Hughes, called him: “An outstanding young player. The guy has everything in front of him. I am sure he will be an England regular.”
OUT OF SHAPE ... Michael Johnson on his last outing for City in 2009
But Hughes’ assistant Mark Bowen later revealed Johnson’s injury problems were starting to affect him mentally. The player also failed to look after himself, often being seen on nights out.
His loan spell at Leicester last season was cut short by a knee injury.
In all, Johnson played 45 times for City, scoring three times. His last appearance for the club was as a second-half sub in a Carling Cup tie against Scunthorpe in October 2009.
A City source said: “It is all very sad. The club has done everything to help him and try and make things work.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4745523/Michael-Johnson-released-by-Manchester-City-after-Twitter-picture-emerges.html#ixzz2IA31YnBU
