Club and Ancelotti ultimately allowed it. He should have been on the bench even with no intention to play, so he could be there for the lap of appreciation at least.
Bit like how the club and Ancelotti should have made sure we weren't so reliant on a 29-year-old who hasn't been able to stay fit for a full season for about 6 years.
he'll be a miss, but we will be able to play another way. I'm just fed up of what stuff like this says about the club. We complain about mediocrity but then happily wave off actually talented players while dossers see out massive contracts and offer nothing.
I know you aren't doing this, but there's some serious revisionism in this thread. When he played he was often our standout player, despite all the lazy stereotyping that went on. We got 26 games out of him, which if we go back to when we signed him was probably what was expected.