Stevan Jovetic has hit out at Manuel Pellegrini after he was left out of Manchester City’s Champions League squad, insisting that the decision has “killed” him.

The Montenegrin striker looked set to be offloaded in January following the €38 million arrival of Wilfried Bony from Swansea City, with Juventus and several other Serie A clubs expressing an interest in signing him.

No deal materialised, however, and he was subsequently replaced by Bony in Pellegrini’s squad for Europe’s elite club competition – which has been restricted to just 21 players by Uefa as punishment for City breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.  

“I deserve to play in the Champions League. I know that,” Jovetic told the Sunday Mirror.

"The manager has killed me with this decision. I feel I deserve my place and other people have told me the same.