Missing (Inaction)

I thought I'd reference this piece on the continued absence of Matija Nastasic by Rob Pollard over at Bleacher Report as it's a topic I've wanted to touch on for some time and certainly one that we've discussed on a number of occasions.

Rob calls the absence 'mysterious'. That is has been. So mysterious in fact that it led to Manuel Pellegrini completely forgetting about Nastasic in a press conference ahead of a game.

Nastasic, in case you have forgotten, has featured just once this season in the Community Shield. Despite injuries in defence he has seen no playing time in the Premier League, Champions League or even the Capital One Cup. From challenging Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Eliquim Mangala he now finds himself in the pecking order behind Dedryck Boyata, a player who was seemingly the greatest beneficiary of the UEFA and Premier League home grown rulings.

Most mysterious of all though is the complete and utter silence around it. No leaks from City over work habits, questionable attitude or penchance for night life and, more surprisingly, not even a murmur of discontent from Nastasic or his camp, let alone some very public agitating for a move away.

The summer transfer window came and went with Nastasic still on the books and it is only the onset of the January window that sees his name in the frame once again, linked with a move to Inter under Roberto Mancini.

It feels that his departure is an inevitability, which would be a huge shame given his age, potential and performance to date. Has his role in the mix up at Stamford Bridge cost him so dearly (in many ways similar to Boyata himself after his red card at home to Arsenal in the Mancini era)?

Again, there has been no word to explain his absence and it is something no-one appears able to explain.

Perhaps it will take his departure for the mystery to be revealed.