Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson will be glad to see the back of reported Leeds United transfer target Han-Noah Massengo after launching an extraordinary broadside against him last season. The Whites have been linked with a move for the midfielder, who left Ashton Gate when his contract expired this summer.
The 22-year-old former France U21 international impressed the likes of Thierry Henry and ex-Spurs winger Nacer Chadli while at Monaco before making a £7m move to Bristol in 2019. But Massengo's time with the Robins ended on a sour note after he was sent on loan to Ligue 1 side Auxerre in January with Pearson saying the player did not want to be at Bristol and that he would not 'waste my staff's time' keeping him just as cover for potential injuries.
Massengo was one of several players to depart in January, with Timm Klose, Chris Martin, Ryley Towler and goalkeeper Dan Bentley also leaving, and Pearson made it clear that he wanted them out. "Let me clarify what happened, it's my decision,” Pearson said in March.
READ MORE: England U21s' secret to success can help Charlie Cresswell take next Leeds United step
"I want them out. Do you think I'm going to waste my staff's time by keeping players in?
"We played Huddersfield the other night. I remember the last game of the season against Huddersfield with Han-Noah Massengo waving goodbye to everybody.
"A player who didn’t want to be here, do you think I'm going to waste my staff’s time by making them look after a player just on the off-chance we might have a few injuries? Not a chance.
"I don't want players here who don't want to be here and I don't want players here who don't offer positive things to the squad. It's not just the three players that we got in January was good business, the players we got out was brilliant business."
