It had been viewed as nothing more than a PR stunt to wind up the neighbours. And it’s hard to argue otherwise after Manchester City confirmed the release of Owen Hargreaves today.
The injury-plagued England international will depart the Etihad Stadium after City decided against extending his short-term deal with the club.
Hargreaves, 31, joined Roberto Mancini’s side on a free transfer last August having spent four largely frustrating years with city rivals United.
A big-money signing from Bayern Munich in 2007, Hargreaves played an integral role in the United’s Premier League and Champions League success that season, before crippling injuries took their toll.
Despite battling back to full fitness after a number of setbacks, Hargreaves was told he would not be offered a new deal by United last summer which led to his switch to City.
However, he played just four times – but only once in the Premier League with a 13-minute appearance in October – and scored a solitary goal in a Carling Cup victory over Birmingham.
The former Bayern Munich man last outing came in the 3-2 FA Cup third-round defeat to United on January 8 when he played the final eight minutes.
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