Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton has said that the Carlos Tevez controversy is like "a soap opera".
The former Newcastle midfielder says that he is unsurprised by Tevez's alleged refusal to come on as a substitute in midweek, believing that it was inevitable that something like that occurred.
"It was only a matter of time before this was going to happen at Manchester City," he said. "You've 10 outfield places with 23 world-class players competing for them.
"It was only a matter of time before one of them threw the toys out of the pram.
"Unfortunately, this is where the game has gone. You have players demanding moves and saying, 'If you don't let me go, I'll not play'. It's like a soap opera. Thankfully it's nothing to do with my club."
Barton left Manchester City for St James' Park in 2007, days before Thaksin Shinawatra purchased the club.