Mancini – who is closing in on deals for James Milner and Mario Balotelli – has already spent £76m bringing David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng to City.
The United boss, meanwhile, has spent significantly less on recruiting Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling, arguing that there were few other options worth their price tag.
But Mancini has no doubts that all four of his new-boys will play a significant part in City’s push to overhaul United this season.
“I think that United have spent a lot of money on players in the past,” Mancini said. “Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool have done the same.
“We have spent money on good young players, and I am happy with what we have done in the market.” And he is also hopeful that Milner will arrive soon from Aston Villa, although he acknowledged that a deal to sign Balotelli from Inter Milan may take longer.
“We are still speaking with both players – Balotelli and Milner. And I am hopeful on both. Which deal is closest? Probably Milner. Probably.
“We are speaking to Inter, and we will do so again in the coming days. We have time to do a deal, and we want to make sure that we buy Balotelli for the right price.”
Mancini joked that he will have no problem working with the volatile Balotelli, because he is used to working with fiery players at City.
“I worked with Bellamy and Tevez,” he laughed. “Working with Balotelli is easy!”
Mancini will discuss Robinho’s future when the playmaker returns from duty with Brazil next week.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Bert is my hero, Cheshire! (07/08/2010 at 13:57)
Shaun Goater's Knee Cap, Bramhall (07/08/2010 at 13:59)
ray class of '68 and before, Bristol Area (07/08/2010 at 14:06)
Carry on Roberto, and manage your team how you want to and not as others may opine!
I look forward to seeing if this comment makes it to 'print', as for reasons unknown to me, my last few posts appear not to have been to MUEN's liking and consequently were not posted on these 'Blue pages!
TTFN
Colin Bell's Boots, Wilmslow (07/08/2010 at 14:13)
The sour old Scottish git never has anything to say worth listening to, because his comments are always full of bile.
SAF ( why was the miserable git ever knighted - for services to billions of inbred and brainless souls aka MANU " fans " ??? ) is a jealous, bitter and grudging sod whose arrogance is only matched by that of the " tv-watching armchair fans " .
Simple message to the Knighted One .............mind your own business and keep scouting for free transfers !!!
Santiago Street, (07/08/2010 at 14:23)
Said it all. Absolutely spot on sir.
Fallingbostel BLUE, GERMANY (07/08/2010 at 14:25)
Reverend Ramsden's ringpiece cathedral, Manchester (07/08/2010 at 14:27)
They dont believe we are coming!!!!
The true Mancunian football club-always have and always will be!!!
This City is ours
MCFC
Chapman (07/08/2010 at 14:42)
Ferguson likes managers around him who dote on his every word like Moyes and Bruce who won't challenge him.
Manchester City do not have to justify any spending to anybody.
When you think of the millions of £'s of investment,manchester united,arsenal, chelsea and liverpool have had out of the Europeans leagues over many years' pot and kettle' spring to mind.
I am the one and only, Tameside (07/08/2010 at 14:44)
Chapman (07/08/2010 at 14:45)
How do you get those numbers to equate to £1,100,000,000 of debt?
You've obviously been watching to many episodes of Countdown and we all know why.
Ramblas Rebel 99, Manchester (07/08/2010 at 14:52)
"No value in the market" lol.
"No trophy in 34 years, LOVL"
Once a blue,always a blue, Levenshulme, Manchester (07/08/2010 at 15:07)
He has done nothing the top 4 or 5 have been doinng for years.
keep spending roberto !!!!
adders, Co.Cavan ex Manchester (07/08/2010 at 15:17)
I am sure all City fans are heartily sick of the way you constantly push United at every opportunity. Even now, when they are heavily in debt and with a weaker, ageing squad, they regularly receive bigging-up boosts from the MEN which seems over-anxious to pander to their success of recent years. Give it a rest. They have their own perfectly capable P.R team.
adders, Co.Cavan ex Manchester (07/08/2010 at 15:28)
Infijar Ken, Namibia (07/08/2010 at 15:34)
Irony is lost on you, isn't it, mate?
Blackadder: “Baldrick, have you no idea what irony is?”
Baldrick: “Yeah! It’s like goldy and bronzy, only it’s made of iron.”
Blackadder III, Amy and Amiability
Colin Bell's Boots, Wilmslow (07/08/2010 at 15:41)
Or was that the first time for over 30 years that Manchester United or MANU to the average dim-witted glory-hunters aka Rags actually started to win things, despite being the Richest Club in the World for many years.
Pathetic, just how many hangers-on that have joined that bandwagon in the
" support " ............non- attending obviously , due to " not being able to get a ticket "
( usual lame excuse ) and have therefore loyally boosted the income of Sky, TV sets, and archair maufactutrers .
How marvellous it must be to be in the company of ( ??? ) like-minded imbeciles also known as sheep ( mainly of the cockney variety / and rare Japanese breed) who attend the largest ranch outside of New Zealand or The Trafford Swamp !
Oh, how I wish I had been brought up , sorry dragged up , as a Rags " supporter "
( heavy irony here ) !!!
Lodgersclog, Warrington (07/08/2010 at 16:01)
sheik monsour, dubai (07/08/2010 at 16:02)
richard lyons (07/08/2010 at 16:04)
I am sure United will have a fair season, but to be honest, (like others have said on here) I really do not care what they do, because as the years go by and as long as City get more right than wrong (no one gets it right 100%) we will be there or there abouts to win almost everything and what other clubs do (United included) is really unimportent, but I do expect us to be hated, because in life when you do well this happens, just as United are now.
I do hope City do well tonight, because silly as it sounds the season starts to night !!!
Good luck Guys
Neville's ugly brother!, Ashton-under-Lyne (07/08/2010 at 16:05)
not a rag rat in the sinkin ship, manchester (07/08/2010 at 16:06)
Jason Drury (07/08/2010 at 16:07)
The crafty goat, Manchester (07/08/2010 at 16:12)
Why do M.E.N even have to mention this guy on a City website?
Manchester United created a plc and shirt factory to fund its massive spending sprees from the formation of the PL and have only just stopped as the dosh ran out.
The question is raised yet again is M.E.N an extention of the Rags marketing department?
Michael knightons tash, Outside manchester (07/08/2010 at 16:15)
Fergie is again out of his comfort zone,
Blue Eyed Blue, Isle of Man (07/08/2010 at 16:22)
Regarding Milner, there are many including myself who think we don't need him, but he will become a City player and it is paramount that all City fans welcome him and provide encouragement and support. Rocky seems to be on his way, but surely we cannot let Bellamy go as well. Even with the possible arrival of Balotelli we still need Bellers. However I believe Bobby will lead us to major successes and we just have to trust that he knows best, especially when we start rubbing the rags noses in it. What odds that once the decline really kicks in at OT Fergie will announce his retirement.