City treats Wright-Phillips as ‘youth-team player’

(GSM) – Ian Wright has criticised the way Shaun Wright-Phillips is treated by senior Manchester City figures.

The former Arsenal striker claims his adopted son is treated “like a youth-team player” in contract talks.

Wright-Phillips, who returned to City in 2008 after a disappointing spell at Chelsea, has two years left to run on his deal at the City of Manchester stadium.

The 28 year-old wants to extend his stay but, according to former England international Wright, City are “mugging off” the winger.

“I tell you what was really awkward, they called him in and he wants to sign his deal, wants to sign for the rest of his career so he can be settled and get ready to go (to the World Cup in South Africa),” Wright said.

“But there’s these people like (football administration officer) Brian Marwood and (chief executive) Garry Cook mugging him off, treating him like a youth-team player and not someone who actually wants to be there because of what he thinks Manchester City can do.”

Wright-Phillips joined the Citizens prior to the takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2009, and several new arrivals have come to the club on salaries higher than his own.

“He signed before all the money came,” Wright pointed out.

Wright expressed disappointment with Marwood and Cook for the manner in which he feels they are treating Wright-Phillips.

“When you have people like Marwood and Cook, who for me are just a bit full of themselves, I’m not sure they know exactly what they are doing deep down so I’m just a bit worried about that,” he added.

“I would love him to be settled so he could just concentrate on getting City into the top four, which would be brilliant for all of them.

“That’s what he wants to do and then God willing he can end up getting on the plane and going to the World Cup, doing well for England and everything would be great.

“That’s what I would like to happen. But you know how football is, it’s different from one week to the next.”

Wright-Phillips had an impressive performance as a goalscoring substitute for England in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Egypt.