Chiellini - City target?
New Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini played down the prospects of using his Italian connections to sign top players from Serie A.
Ever since the Italian took over from Mark Hughes at Manchester City , the club has been linked with a string of players from Italy’s top division, including Inter Milan players Maicon and Mario Balotelli , AC Milan midfield general Gennaro Gattuso and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini .
There has also been speculation linking Manchester City to Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who flourished under Mancini at Inter Milan .
However, the new boss at Eastlands, who commented last week that his City side was better than he first thought, said it would be hard to bring the cream of Serie A to the Premier League.
Mancini told Italy's Sky TV: "Chiellini is the key to Juve's defence so it seems a bit difficult they would let him go. The same goes for Balotelli and Gattuso."