Barton’s smelly new contract

I HAVE no reason to disbelieve Joey Barton. He is a fine player, rightly knocking on the door of the England squad.

He insists that he’s happy to stay at Manchester City: “We are going in the right direction and I have got a manager who believes in me.”

But I’m confused. Why was it important to have a clause inserted in his lucrative new contract allowing him to talk to any club offering City £5.5 million?

Why, instead of just dismissing the interest of Everton, did his agent Willie McKay say “this is Joey Barton’s clause, not Manchester City’s?” Why is McKay still Barton’s agent?

It doesn’t smell right to me. ‘Somebody’ is agitating for a move.

Might it be that Barton isn’t interested in Everton or Newcastle United?

What if Arsenal or Manchester United came calling? Would Barton still be saying how settled he is at City? I know. I’m just an old cynic.