Euro-Isaksson wants to leave Man City despite new manager

[TheGift]

LUGANO, Switzerland, June 5 (Reuters) - Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson said Mark Hughes’s appointment as Manchester City manager will not keep him at the Premier League team.

“I want to leave the club. I said that before, and the arrival of Mark Hughes will make no difference,” said Isaksson.

“I will not be fighting for my place or talking to the new manager about changing my mind.”

Hughes was named as City manager on Wednesday after quitting top-flight rivals Blackburn Rovers. He replaces Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, who left by mutual consent after one season.

Isaksson told Reuters he was a free agent but City said on Thursday he had one year left on the contract he signed in 2006.

Asked about Hughes’s appointment, Isaksson said: “I don’t really care. Hopefully, I won’t be at the club next season.”

Media reports in Sweden and England have linked Isaksson with a move to Premier League Fulham but he said he had not spoken to any clubs and was focusing strictly on Euro 2008.

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The 26-year-old moved to City after a superb display for his country at the 2006 World Cup finals, but a series of thumb and knee injuries ruined his first season in England.

Despite his lack of Premier League starts last term at City — where he lost the number one spot to Joe Hart—Isaksson is confident he will be Sweden’s first choice for their opening Group D clash with European champions Greece on Tuesday.

“No, I do not think this will affect my selection,” he said.

“I feel good and I am in good shape, everything has felt good in the games I have played this year and I have trained well. So I do not think this will be a problem.”

Sweden, who held their first training session at their base in the Swiss Alps on Wednesday, also face Spain and Russia in a group that Isaksson expects will be very tight.

“It is a very tough group and Spain are, of course, favourites but it is very open for that second place,” he said.

“We are just as strong as any of the other teams in the group, so we think we should qualify for the next round. But it will be very tight.”

Euro-Isaksson wants to leave Man City despite new manager - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports