Mancini doubts Van Persie deal as Dzeko looks set for Man City stay
Roberto Mancini is resigned to losing out in the race for Robin Van Persie but admits Edin Dzeko could be set to stay at Manchester City next season.
The Premier League champions were thought to be fronting the queue to sign Van Persie with the striker all but certain to leave Arsenal in the summer after refusing to sign a new contract.
Rivals Manchester United along with Italian giants Juventus are also vying for the Dutchman’s signature and Mancini doesn’t expect to have the 28-year-old in his squad next term.
The Italian was quoted as saying by various newspapers: “Van Persie? No, I don’t think he will come here.”
However the City chief revealed that Bosnia international Dzeko is unlikely to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer after being touted as a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovich at AC Milan whilst Juventus are also said to be interested.
“It’s pretty unlikely he will leave,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“He is right to say it’s no fun being on the bench but when you join a big club then competition is normal.”
The 26-year-old has struggled to nail down a place in the starting lineup since arriving from Wolfsburg in January 2010 for £27 million falling behind Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez in the striking pecking order.
“I always follow the Italian league and one day I’d like to play in it,” he is quoted in the Manchester Evening News. “I also know that Milan has sold two of its best players.
“For now I am a City player, but to be sure I will stay here I will have to wait until the end of the month. I’ll see what happens, and if someone else comes.”
