Manchester City will sell Joey Barton in the summer after the midfielder put his French team-mate Ousmane Dabo in hospital yesterday following a brutal and prolonged attack at the training ground.
Dabo needed treatment for facial cuts after being repeatedly punched in an incident that was witnessed by a group of children who were watching the practice session. Barton was immediately suspended for the season and he will be informed at a disciplinary hearing that he will never play for the club again. City's board has decided to cut its losses and accept cut-price offers, a development that is likely to interest Everton, Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
The flare-up comes only 10 days after Barton, who has undergone anger-management counselling at the Sporting Chance clinic in Hampshire, complained that City's summer signings, including Dabo, had let down the club and said he would not pay to watch if he were a fan.
Barton apparently incited the fight by sliding into a late tackle on Dabo during a game to work on tactics for Saturday's derby against Manchester United. A few minutes later Dabo retaliated with a late tackle of his own. When Barton fouled him for a second time the two squared up and Barton repeatedly lashed out before being dragged away. Dabo was taken to hospital but released after treatment. Now, he may take Barton's place against United.