For the second consecutive summer, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is unhappy with the Premier League champions transfer policy.
Asked in Beijing on Thursday whether he was “disappointed” that City haven’t signed anyone yet this summer, Mancini immediately shifted responsibility to football administrator Brian Marwood saying:
“For this question, speak to the man in charge,” Mancini said, when asked about Van Persie. “I am not in charge of this. It is important [to get players quickly] because, after what we did last year, we must continue to win. This year will be harder than last, so we need to improve our team. We have a man who works for this and we hope that they can do a good job.”
The problem that Mancini is facing is that unlike Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, City are grappling with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, and are attempting to balance the books. So instead of buying new players, most of City’s focus this sumer has been on how to get rid of the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz.
Mancini does not accept City’s more prudent style. To him he should tell Marwood who he wants and City should go out and get that player(s) regardless of the cost.
City have yet to make a signing this summer and Mancini is starting to worry that if United do land Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, that could be the difference in the title race next season. And Mancini has to be keeping a watchful eye on London, as Roman Abramovich has spent £70 million in this transfer window as he retools Chelsea for another title run.