Mancini laments Manchester City failure to sign world class players

Posted on February 23, 2013 by SoccerPunter

Roberto Mancini has expressed his disappointment in the lack of world class signings for Manchester City.

One of their shortlisted targets was Robin van Persie before he joined rivals Manchester United. Van Persie has went on to score 23 goals for Manchester United and he has been pivotal to the club success in English Premier League.

Manchester United are in pole position to reclaim the English Premier League title as they are 12 points ahead of defending Champions Manchester City.

Mancini had hoped to build on last season’s success by bringing in world-class talent in several key positions, but City were unable to secure any of their manager’s top targets.

The champions were also linked with other big names such as Javi Martinez, Eden Hazard and Daniele di Rossi, but instead ended up settling for Jack Rodwell, Matija Nastasic, Maicon, Scott Sinclair and Javi Garcia.

With City now trailing leaders United by 12 points, their hopes of retaining the title are fading and Mancini admits both he and the club’s hierarchy made mistakes in the transfer market.

“It’s important to realise we have made some mistakes. I have made some mistakes and the players have made some mistakes,” Mancini told the Guardian on Friday.

“But the first reason is because we didn’t do what we should have done in the summer transfer market. We worked really badly in the market.”

Mancini’s words could be interpreted as criticism of Brian Marwood, the club’s former sporting director who has since switched to a role in charge of the Academy.

While Mancini is understandably frustrated by City’s transfer woes, the Italian expects better recruitment before next season following the arrival of former Barcelona executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain.

“Ferran came from Barcelona and understands what it needs to be a top club. Txiki played football and knows football,” Mancini said.

“They are good men. For this reason, I am optimistic about our future. We now have people who know their football.”

Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid forward Radamel Falcao are likely to be among City’s targets and Mancini revealed he is a big fan of both players.

“Cavani and Falcao would work in England,” he said. “They have experience. Both players are 26, 27. They are good enough to play in England.”