Roberto Mancini has said he “paid his taxes” as he deals with allegations against Manchester City of alleged financial fair play violations ahead of Italy’s game against England.
The 58-year-old, who has been Italy’s manager since 2018 and led Italy to victory over England at Euro 2020, was City’s manager from 2009 to 2013, a period currently under investigation by the Premier League investigation.
City were accused of breaking financial fair play rules more than 100 times in a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. The club denied all allegations.
In that time they have won three Premier League titles, most notably (and dramatically) under Mancini in 2011-12 when Sergio Aguero took the title in the last blow of the season.
“No one has contacted me and I don’t think anyone will answer me,” Mancini said ahead of Thursday night’s game in Naples.
“I paid my taxes, so I’m fine. I don’t think anyone will come forward.”
City’s case has been referred to an independent panel, and if found guilty, a range of sentences can be expected.
Mancini left Etihad in 2013 and first became manager of Galatasaray before returning to former club Inter Milan and working at Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia.
He started in Italy nearly five years ago and has had an unstable tenure, beating England on penalties to win the European Championship before failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
He also downplayed the safety concerns associated with the game against Napoli.
The Napoli ultras were embroiled in violent clashes with Eintracht fans in Frankfurt ahead of both games of the Champions League final, while England fans received threatening emails from their Italian colleagues.
Mancini said: “I don’t work for the police. There were always visiting fans who would usually cause problems and we saw that in the Champions League.
“England are one of the best teams in the world, they have an exceptional squad of players. It’s going to be a pretty tough game.”
Source: I News
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