Cardiff City have acquired the services of Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy on a season long loan deal, ending weeks of speculation as to where the Welshman would end up for this season.
Cardiff was just one of many rumoured destinations over the pask few weeks, a list that included clubs from three separate countries showing an interest. The Bluebirds will become the ninth club of Bellamy's senior league career, having been on the youth team books of Bristol Rovers and Norwich City, the club for whom he made his debut in first team football.
Bellamy was happy to take the step down to the Championship for personal reasons as not only is he a Cardiff fan but his wife and three children live in Peterston-super-Ely, a small village on the outskirts of Cardiff. The striker spoke of the joy of joining his boyhood club to Cardiff's official website, saying:
"I'm thrilled to be coming back home to Cardiff.
"I am excited at the prospect of wearing the shirt and playing for the club I've supported since I was a boy.
"I'll be working hard with my new team-mates to bring success to the club and look forward to our next Championship game on Saturday.
"I'm sure that all City fans will play their part in driving us forward this year. It has been my dream to play my part in taking my hometown club to the Premier League, which would be fantastic for the football club, the city of Cardiff and Wales."
The transfer saga started on Sunday evening when a local newspaper claimed Bellamy was to move to Cardiff on Monday. Cardiff, however, denied having any contact with Manchester City over a possible move but this and Bellamy's comments that he would be happy to move to Cardiff seemed to spur Blueburds boss Dave Jones into action and the loan deal was announced this morning.
Other possible destinations for the striker could have been Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg, former loan club Celtic and teaming up with his former Welsh national team manager Mark Hughes at Fulham, as well as interest from Manchester City's Champions League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The colourful hitman had known for some time that he would not be included in Man City's 25 man Premier League squad and had been previously told that it would be in everybodies best interests if he were to stay away from City's training ground, despite scoring 10 goals in 25 starts last season.
Bellamy is set to make his debut for Cardiff at the clubs City stadium when they play Doncaster Rovers on saturday. The Welshman is one of a number of signings that hint towards Cardiff's Premier League amibitions as he joins both Jason Koumas and Seyi Olofinjana at the club. The loan deal is one of a number of transfer dealings at Manchester City today which includes the signing of Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan and the announcement of a deal for Aston Villa's James Milner which will also see Stephen Ireland move the other way to Villa Park.
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