Surprise! Van Bommel backs De Jong

Controversial Manchester City star Nigel de Jong's international midfield partner Mark van Bommel has defended him and insisted he is no “criminal”.

“Nigel is and remains one of us," said Bayern Munich skipper Van Bommel, whose own 'robust' tackling at this summer's World Cup raised many eyebrows.

“We find this all very frustrating. It’s very unfortunate that he has broken the leg of an opponent twice in six months.

“But I know Nigel as a sweet guy. He doesn’t want to injure anyone but wants to win every match. That is his strength.

“Thanks to Nigel we reached the final of the World Cup. And now I hear people calling him a criminal. What a nonsense.”

Meanwhile, Ruud Gullit has claimed De Jong has been dropped by Holland because of criticism of their negative tactics.

De Jong was axed by coach Bert van Marwijk after his leg-breaking tackle on Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

Former Chelsea and Newcastle manager Gullit admitted De Jong had been warned by the Holland boss over aggressive style.

But he added: “I also think it is a bit of an excuse because people are moaning about the system. They don’t have to have two holding midfielders and prefer only one. Now is the possibility to do that.

"I don’t know if he has been made a scapegoat but it is all in the same discussion.

“There has been a discussion already with the coach and he asked him a couple of times to cool it down. Now he has been dropped.”