Manchester City boss, Manuel Pellegrini has denied that Stevan Jovetic is on his way out of the team after being omitted from the Champions League squad.

Pellegrini also insisted no decision on the future of Jovetic, who has attracted interest from clubs in Italy, will be made until the summer.

"I don't think that one thing has a link with the other thing," Pellegrini said when asked the 25-year-old is on an exit course now.

"It is very important for Stevan to try to play now until the end of the season to play as much games as he can and not be injured and try to have a high performance every time he plays. After the end of the season, we analyse not only for Stevan, for all the squad which will continue the next year."

"It is always difficult to take a player out of the list but we have restrictions this year," he added. "We bought Bony because I think that we need another striker, a box player, and in the position of Jovetic maybe we have some other options. It is a difficult decision but I think it was the best for the squad.

"Stevan Jovetic continues being a very important player here. Maybe if we didn't have the restriction of Financial Fair Play, we would not do it. We would have another place but we do have the restrictions and I think he is a good professional.

"I hope we will see him play in the Premier League the same way he did at the start of the season."