Stevan Jovetic’s story at Manchester City has been a sorry one.
Since moving to the Etihad Stadium for a fee of £22m in 2013, the Montenegrin has failed to replicate the artistry he graced the Serie A with for five seasons. Manuel Pellegrini handed the 25-year-old his latest setback by omitting him from City’s 21-man Champions League squad for the knockout stages of this year’s competition, but the forward only has himself to blame for his misfortune.
After a first season in the Premier League heavily blighted by injury, Jovetic sought rehabilitation in the club’s pre-season tour of the USA. The former Fiorentina man netted five goals and his performances were praised by the UK media who were keen to see the likable character finally flaunt his ability in the sky blue of his new surroundings.
“I have his (Pellegrini’s) confidence and I’m going to do everything I can on the pitch to repay that and show I deserve to play,” he told the Manchester Evening News after scoring two goals in a 5-1 win over AC Milan. There was definitely reason for optimism heading into the 2014/2015 season.
Things have taken a sour turn for the striker since then. Two goals against Liverpool in August propped up early predictions that the Montenegrin was in line to claim City’s Player of the Season accolade, but in the six months that have followed, Jovetic has made just seven starts, scoring three goals.
But Manuel Pellegrini cannot be accused of mistreating the striker. Injury has kept Jovetic out of a total of seven games in all competitions this term which has left the Montenegro captain struggling for consistency. His best performances have come playing in the hole just behind Sergio Agüero where his intelligence and creativity has proven useful, his impressive display against Sunderland showcased his abilities well, but Jovetic fails to exert his influence on a regular basis and his lack of muscle often renders his repository of silky skills useless.
Quite simply, there are better, more creative and more influential figures than Jovetic in the squad and Wilfried Bony is likely to be added to that list. City’s latest big money acquisition is yet to pull on the sky blue shirt, but physicality and a knack for goalscoring are attributes far more attractive than a delicate touch in and around the 18-yard-box, especially in the Champions League.
However, the forward’s staggering injury record and tally of just five goals in 15 appearances this season suggests that Pellegrini’s decision to leave him out of the squad was the correct one. As a striker, Jovetic does not score enough, and as an attacking midfielder, he is not productive enough having created just 14 chances in the league this term – 31 less than David Silva and 38 less than Samir Nasri who play in similar positions.
The Montenegrin is undoubtedly a talented player capable of improving an array of Europe’s most competitive teams, but his body has crumbled under the physicality of the Premier League since arriving in the summer of 2013.
The latest development in his Manchester City horror story is certain to see him move on in the summer with Serie A his most likely destination. Juventus, AS Roma and La Liga champions Atlético Madrid have all been linked with the forward who could command a fee of around £18m – money Manuel Pellegrini could certainly improve his squad with.
