Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has told Joey Barton he could be anything.
Pardew is adamant Barton can cope with anything thrown his way.
The St James' Park gaffer said: "Joey is an individual, a character - they have tweaks to their personality, they express exactly what they think.
"Joey does that at the training ground and in team meetings. He will say 'I don't agree with that.' I will listen and I will weigh up whether he is right or wrong.
"Now I don't agree with all of his opinions but he does have a genuine opinion, like Eric Cantona or George Best, these type of people who had strong opinions which made them the players they were.
"Since I have been at this football club I have not had any incidents when his behaviour has been brought into question. And in fact, he has been exemplary under extreme provocation. I am looking at a pro footballer. He is conducting his life of the pitch in the right way, he is in training on time and doing his work.
"I am not seeing incidents which are a problem for me, no stories in the papers of him being drunk and disorderly. Since I have managed Joey he has been nothing but a quality player for me and he deserves the armband.
"If I had managed him five years ago would I have given him the captain's armband? Perhaps not but in life you have to deal with people as you find them."
