Mancini Out - Malaga's Pellegrini In for Man City next Season

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is in line to take over at Manchester City next season according to reports emerging from Spain on Friday night.

Madrid-based sports daily AS claims that City are willing to pay the EUR4 million ($5.2m, £3.4m) release clause in Pellegrini’s contract to take him from the financially troubled Spanish club.
The Chilean, who led Malaga the quarter-finals of the Champions League in their first ever appearance in the competition this season, is thought to have been targeted by former Barcelona sporting director and now director of football at City, Txiki Begiristain.

Begiristain has been impressed with his success in that competition compared with current manager Roberto Mancini’s failure to get City beyond the group stages in the past two seasons.
Begiristain met with Pellegrini’s agent Jesus Martinez last month in Madrid and AS also claim that, should Pellegrini move to Manchester, that could clear a way for talented Malaga playmaker Isco to become City’s latest big-money signing come the end of the season.

Mancini, speaking on Friday on the eve of Manchester City’s FA Cup final against Wigan, was philosophical about his own position despite leading them to a first major trophy in 35 years when they won the 2011 FA Cup

City's loss means the club will end the season without a significant trophy for the first time in three years and is likely to intensify speculation about Mancini's job security in the British media.

Spanish media reports claim Mancini could be replaced by Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini in the close season, and the Italian angrily rebuked his employers for not publicly addressing the rumours.

Speaking to the media after Saturday's game at a rain-soaked Wembley Stadium, he said: "You continue to talk about this for six months and also in the last two weeks, too much.

"I don't know why the club didn't stop this, because I didn't think it was correct. I don't think that it's true."

Asked if he had demanded reassurances from the club over his position, he replied: "No, I didn't need to ask this to the club. Because there isn't any reason for me."

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is in line to take over at Manchester City next season according to reports emerging from Spain on Friday night.

Madrid-based sports daily AS claims that City are willing to pay the EUR4 million ($5.2m, £3.4m) release clause in Pellegrini’s contract to take him from the financially troubled Spanish club.
The Chilean, who led Malaga the quarter-finals of the Champions League in their first ever appearance in the competition this season, is thought to have been targeted by former Barcelona sporting director and now director of football at City, Txiki Begiristain.

Begiristain has been impressed with his success in that competition compared with current manager Roberto Mancini’s failure to get City beyond the group stages in the past two seasons.
Begiristain met with Pellegrini’s agent Jesus Martinez last month in Madrid and AS also claim that, should Pellegrini move to Manchester, that could clear a way for talented Malaga playmaker Isco to become City’s latest big-money signing come the end of the season.

Mancini, speaking on Friday on the eve of Manchester City’s FA Cup final against Wigan, was philosophical about his own position despite leading them to a first major trophy in 35 years when they won the 2011 FA Cup