Updated at 4.39pm
CONTROVERSIAL NEWCASTLE MIDFIELDER Joey Barton has dampened speculation linking him with a move to Man United, but said he may leave his club once this season ends.
Communicating via Twitter earlier today, Barton said: “Nice to be linked with the big clubs but I honestly don’t want to leave Newcastle. Thanks but no thanks.”
In a later tweet, he added: “I will most likely leave Newcastle at end of season, when my contract expires and I am no longer employed. It’s out of my hands.”
News had emerged earlier that Alex Ferguson was considering making a swoop for Premier League bad boy Joey Barton.
Jonathon Northcroft of the Sunday Times (subsciption required) had reported that the Old Trafford boss thought the former Man City man could fill a Paul Scholes-shaped hole in the Red Devils’ midfield.
Scholes retired after United sealed a record 19th league title in May. Barton has a disciplinary rap sheet almost as long as Ferguson’s honours list but the manager is said to have been impressed by the controversial playmaker’s performances last year.
Additional Reporting: Paul Fennessy
