Roberto Mancini has spoken publicly about the long-running case involving Manchester City, making it clear that he does not consider the controversy surrounding the club to be his responsibility.
The former Manchester City manager has been linked to the case because some of the alleged financial breaches took place during his time in charge at the Etihad Stadium. One of the issues concerns allegations surrounding payments made to Mancini outside his official managerial contract.
However, the Italian coach has rejected the idea that the matter should concern him and has also maintained that Manchester City should not be considered guilty.
Mancini Rejects the Claims Against Manchester City
Manchester City’s financial case has returned to the spotlight after the club was found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League.
The club has continued to insist that it did not breach the rules. The legal process is also not yet completely finished, meaning the latest findings do not necessarily represent the final chapter of the dispute.
Mancini was asked about the situation ahead of Italy’s Nations League match against Turkey.
His response was direct.
“I don’t think Manchester City were found guilty, quite the opposite,” Mancini said.
The former City boss also made it clear that the allegations surrounding a second contract were not something he considered to be his responsibility.
“If there was one, that’s their problem,” he added.
Mancini’s comments underline his decision to distance himself from the wider controversy involving his former club.
Why Is Roberto Mancini Linked to the Case?
Mancini’s name appears in the Manchester City case because he was the club’s manager during part of the period covered by the allegations.
He took charge at Manchester City in 2009 and remained in the position until 2013.
During that period, the club underwent a major transformation and established itself as one of the leading teams in English football.
However, the financial case covers a much longer period, from 2009 to 2018, and involves a wide range of alleged breaches.
One particular allegation concerns the way Mancini’s remuneration was reported.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Mancini was allegedly involved in a second agreement connected with Al Jazira, an Abu Dhabi club owned by Manchester City chairman Sheikh Mansour.
The reported agreement was worth around £1.7 million and included a requirement for a minimum of four consultancy days per year.
Mancini has rejected the idea that the matter should be treated as his problem.
The Allegations Cover Several Financial Areas
The case involving Manchester City is considerably broader than the allegations connected to Mancini.
The Premier League proceedings have covered several areas of the club’s financial operations over a number of seasons.
The main areas involved include:
- Financial information allegedly provided to the Premier League.
- Disclosure of payments to managers.
- Disclosure of payments to players.
- Alleged breaches of financial regulations.
- Alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation.
Because of the scope of the proceedings, the allegations involving Mancini represent only one part of a much larger case.
Manchester City have continued to reject the allegations and maintain their position throughout the process.
Manchester City Chairman Maintains Club’s Position
While Mancini has distanced himself from the controversy, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has also publicly reiterated the club’s position.
Al Mubarak told supporters that Manchester City remained determined to prove that the club was not guilty.
In a letter to fans, he acknowledged that many supporters had likely faced questions from family members, friends and colleagues following the latest developments.
The chairman said he had experienced similar questions himself.
However, he emphasized that the club’s belief in its position had not changed.
Al Mubarak also explained why Manchester City could not provide a detailed response to every issue surrounding the case.
According to the chairman, strict confidentiality requirements surrounding the legal process prevented the club from revealing everything it would like to tell supporters.
Why Manchester City Cannot Reveal Everything
The legal process surrounding the case has placed restrictions on what Manchester City can publicly discuss.
Al Mubarak said there were many things the club wanted to explain to supporters, particularly regarding why Manchester City remained confident in its position.
However, legal confidentiality meant those details could not simply be released publicly.
The chairman also encouraged supporters to carefully read Manchester City’s official statements released following the latest development, as well as the club’s previous statement from February 2023.
His message was that the club’s position had not changed despite the attention surrounding the case.
For Manchester City, the legal process remains an ongoing matter rather than a situation they consider completely settled.
Mancini Focuses on Italy
Mancini’s comments came at a time when his attention was primarily focused on his responsibilities with the Italian national team.
The 61-year-old had recently begun his second spell as Italy manager and was preparing for the Nations League meeting with Turkey.
That meant questions about Manchester City brought him back to an important chapter of his managerial career.
Mancini remains closely associated with Manchester City because of what he achieved during his time at the club.
His tenure included a major period of growth for the team, but he now appears determined to keep his distance from the financial controversy surrounding his former employer.
What Happens Next for Manchester City?
The Manchester City case remains an important issue in English football, particularly because of the number and scope of the allegations.
The club continues to dispute the findings and remains committed to defending its position through the ongoing legal process.
For Mancini, however, his message is straightforward. He does not accept that Manchester City should be considered guilty and does not regard the alleged second-contract issue as his responsibility.
The former City manager has therefore chosen to draw a clear line between his time at the club and the current legal dispute.
As the process continues, attention will remain on Manchester City and the next stages of the case. Mancini, meanwhile, appears ready to focus on his current responsibilities with Italy rather than become further involved in the controversy surrounding his former club.
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