In recent past, we ‘ve experienced some top players not interested in playing for their clubs at some point in their career.
But it is not a pleasant one when a player such as Tevez or Mahrez decides they want to move on or isn’t happy with a decision the manager has taken.
From exiling themselves in another country to refusing to come off the bench, we’ve taken a look at some of the most famous cases of footballers going on strike.
William Gallas

William Gallas [Image: Getty]
Not content with just going on strike, the Frenchman apparently told his manager that he would score own goals (yes, plural) or make deliberate mistakes if he were selected.
In the end, he did Chelsea a massive favour, as his sale to Arsenal saw Ashley Cole move in the other direction.
Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes [Image: Getty]
Just two other regular first-choice players were set to play the next match, a League Cup tie against Arsenal, but Scholes refused to be a part of the squad. He was fined heavily but it didn’t affect his status at the club too badly in the end.
Diego Costa

Diego Costa [Image: Getty Images]
It was nice of Antonio Conte to let Costa know, but texting him that was a little bit brutal, no?
Anyway, what ensued was a weird situation where Conte didn’t want Costa but also didn’t want to sell him, so the striker stayed in Brazil where he waited out a move to Atletico Madrid, which eventually went through this January.
Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez [Image: Getty]
But then he just didn’t come back. His suspension from the club ended but Tevez refused to return from Argentina for two months before he eventually came back and scored a number of vital goals as City won the Premier League title.
Dimitri Payet

Dimitri Payet [Image: Getty]
He subsequently said he was bored of the defensive football West Ham played. “You could say I was pissed off, yes,” he said. “I worked hard in every game without taking any pleasure.”
Let’s not forget that this actually went in though.
Riyad Mahrez

The latest striking player, Riyad Mahrez [Image: Getty]
No, we don’t get it either. But he looks likely to miss his third game in a row – against his suitors, Manchester City – as he refuses to even report for training.
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