Sport

Manuel Pellegrini turned down Paris Saint Germain approach to join Manchester City’s ‘great project’

By Paddy von Behr

Manuel Pellegrini is excited to build a project at Manchester City, after the Malaga boss revealed a deal to take him to the Etihad Stadium is all but complete.

The 59-year-old has been the front-runner to succeed Roberto Mancini, since the Italian was sacked in May, and now looks set to justify that favourite tag.

And he has promised to put together an exciting plan for the club, including a team that plays positive, attractive football.

“Manchester City have offered me a great project,” Pellegrini said. “Hopefully, it becomes official.

“There is nothing signed still, so I cannot say that I am their coach, but I don’t see that there will be any problems.

“If it happens, Manchester City will have a team that will play very good football.

“City have a great team and a clear plan on how things will develop. This motivates me.”

The Chilean manager has been linked to a number of top European clubs this summer, after he confirmed this month he would leave Malaga.

Following spells at Villareal and Real Madrid, Pellegrini is ready to leave Spain and a move to big-spending French champions Paris Saint Germain was suggested.

However, he re-affirmed his commitment to City, fuelling the belief he will officially become the FA Cup finalists’ boss before the end of next week.

“Paris Saint Germain is a very important institution – one of the most important in Europe,” he added.

“They put themselves in contact, but the priority was to work with Manchester City.”

Pellegrini is widely expected to bring playmaker Isco with him from Malaga, much to the disappointment of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid are interested in the youngster, but this week he expressed his desire to continue working with his ‘footballing father’, Pellegrini.

Image courtesy of AlJazeeraEnglish, via YouTube, with thanks.

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