Italians underwhelmed by Mancini move

Roberto Mancini may have got the Manchester City manager’s job but there has been little pomp and fanfare back in his homeland.

As the last Italian coach to lift Serie A with Inter Milan and the latest addition in the burgeoning English-based Italian connection, Mancini’s appointment at mega-rich City might have been expected to create more excitement at home.

But the reaction has been muted with the Italian press speculating that he has one sole objective – finish in the top four or pack his bags.

“Sheikh Mansour is in a hurry to win and he wants only stars,” claimed the Gazzetta dello Sport, who suggested Mancini will be given a war chest despite the more than 200 million pounds City’s owners have already shelled out.

“Mansour is in a hurry to dominate the Premier League and Europe and if Mancini manages to penetrate the big four, replacing Liverpool, he will get a blank cheque in the summer.”

But La Gazzetta claims failure to attain that objective will result in a quick return to his homeland.

“At City some people claim there is a clause in the contract that he will only be retained beyond June if City finish at least fourth.”

Corriere dello Sport believes he’s been set an even higher target than that.

“Now he’s asked to guide the Citizens at least into the Champions League zone and hopefully win the League Cup as well.”

According to Tuttosport this move had been in the offing for some time.

“Mancini dedicated himself to learning English these last few months so he could hit the ground running,” it said.

“He met several times with the Sheikh Mansour and was even ready to take over from (Mark) Hughes at the end of last season.”