Joleon Lescott admits he could be nearing the end of his glittering Manchester City career.
Lescott’s £90,000-a-week contract at the Etihad ends in the summer and City have made no move to open talks over a new deal. Lescott turns 32 in August and the Blues are believed to be willing to release him and use the savings on his wages to fund the purchase of a new centre-half.
The defender, who has won the Premier League and FA Cup with City since his controversial £22million move from Everton 2009, is philosophical about the situation and knows he is playing for his future, even it it probably lies elsewhere.
“I want to stay,” he said. “That’s the main thing. But the club have not approached me yet, so I don’t know what the situation is with them.
“If I’m playing for my future here, then great. If I’m playing for it elsewhere, then so be it. I just know that every time I’m out there, I have to perform at a level where top clubs would be interested in signing me.”
Lescott was demoted by Matija Nastasic’s signing in 2012 and was irked by Roberto Mancini’s reluctance to play him alongside the Serb because they are both left-footed.
Mancini’s successor at the Etihad, Manuel Pellegrini also appears to have reservations about Lescott and he will only face Swansea on Saturday if Nastasic and Vincent Kompany are unavailable.
Lescott says he could even go in January and admits it has been hard spending much of the last 18 months on the sidelines.
“It depends on what the club wants and what opportunities there are for me in January,” he said.
“I’m not just going to leave a club like this for the sake of it, but at the end of the season I would have to.
“It’s hard not playing. No professional enjoys it and I’m no different. It’s not great not playing in the last year of my contract.”
Lescott feels he played well enough against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday to keep his place and is frustrated that he is dropped regardless of his performance.
“I just want to be treated the same as everyone else,” he said. “So if I’m playing and the team is winning, then I stay in the team, the same as everyone else.
“Realistically, there is only one place up for grabs when Vinny is fit. There are three of us for fighting for that. But I’m ready for the challenge.
“I try not to doubt myself and I try to believe I can perform.”
Rio looks more than the 5,760 miles away than it is for Lescott, but he refuses to give up on his World Cup dream.
“It doesn’t look like I’ll be going at the minute,” he admitted. “I’ve not been in the last few squads, so it’s going to be hard.
“But if I’m playing for City and we’re progressing in the Champions League and the title race, then there might be a place for me.”
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