Juventus track Man City manager Mancini
Roberto Mancini revealed earlier this season that he had been asked to deliver a top-four finish at Manchester City, so the widely-held belief is that if he fails to deliver on that target, he will follow Mark Hughes out of the exit door at Eastlands.
Right now, the Italian tactician looks likely to take the Citizens into the Champions League, as they sit fourth in the Premier League, four points clear of the team that pipped them last year, Tottenham, with a fairly favourable run-in, which is why they are [1.33] on Betfair to achieve their goal.
Serie A giants Juventus are keeping tabs on the progress of the FA Cup semi-finalists though, according to The Sun, who claim that the Bianconeri will approach the former Inter Milan coach if he finds himself out of work, and may even consider a bold attempt to lure him even if they do qualify.
Mancini is thought to be a childhood fan of the Old Lady, but even their keenest admirers would think twice before taking charge in Turin at the moment, as their battle to regain their place among European football's elite after the 2006 Calciopoli scandal is proving tougher than anyone imagined.
Claudio Ranieri took them closest, returning them to the top four and Champions League knockout rounds only to be foolishly dismissed at the first sign of trouble.
Since then, Juve have struggled to even make the Europa League and with another seventh-place finish beckoning, Luigi Del Neri is expected to follow Ciro Ferrara as a one-season wonder. Luciano Spalletti and Walter Mazzarri are mentioned as successors, yet it's plausible that neither would be interested.
Will Mancini keep his job this summer? Offer a prediction below...
Published: 30 Mar 2011
Comment on this rumour - or post a rumour you've heard