Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez, according to coach Roberto Mancini.
• Pozzo: Sanchez worth €50m
• Pozzo talks up City interest
Sanchez, 22, is a target of Barcelona and is under contract with
Udinese until June 2014, but City, who had been tipped to be in the lead, are now not interested.
”I have spoken to Sanchez,” said Mancini to Sky Italia. ”He said he was open
to the idea of coming to City but then we have pulled out (of negotiations). After our last offer, we are out of the race to acquire the Chilean player.”
Udinese, meanwhile, confirmed the Chile winger would prefer a move to
Spain rather than England.
”Have City pulled out of the race?,” Gino Pozzo, son of Udinese owner
Giampaolo Pozzo, said to Corriere dello Sport. ”You should ask them. We have
not entered negotiations with City.
”The will of the player is to go to Barcelona. The negotiations with the
Catalan club are going forward. With calmness, we will find a solution. We will speak to Barca and we will
see.”
Pozzo has not ruled out the possibility that Sanchez, who is valued at
50 million euros (£44.95 million), could remain at Udinese for a further season.
”He (Sanchez) said it yesterday and we have reiterated it in the past,” Pozzo
said.”It is an option.”
Meanwhile, Mancini is confident Carlos Tevez will remain at the club next
season despite the Argentina forward recently expressing his desire to leave the
club.
Tevez, who played a pivotal role in the Eastlands club winning the FA Cup and
securing a top-four Premier League finish, has been strongly linked with a move
to Italy this summer.
”Tevez is a good player,” Mancini added. ”I believe he will remain with
us.”
