Mancini laughs off rumours about quitting over transfer period

LIVERPOOL, England   ●   Roberto Mancini has laughed off reports that he is willing to quit Manchester City in frustration at the club’s transfer policy.

City have only made one summer signing, Jack Rodwell, while failing to lure a host of big-name targets to the Etihad Stadium.

And it was suggested that the Italian would walk away from his lucrative five-year deal with the champions.

But he said: “No. It is not true. If the newspaper sells a lot of copies, I am happy for the newspaper. I never said this and I never think this.”

Mancini is looking to strengthen City’s squad before the transfer window closes with Scott Sinclair’s move from Swansea thought to be imminent.

“We have our targets and I hope we can close in the next few days,” he said, while insisting he had never been interested in Liverpool defender Daniel Agger.

Asked how many players he wanted to sign, Mancini joked: “Ten or 15.”

Barton Desperate to leave QPR

●  Joey Barton has spoken of his desperation to leave Queens Park Rangers and said he hopes a move to Marseille can be agreed in the coming days.

Barton appears to have no future at Loftus Road after his actions in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of last season resulted in a 12-match suspension for the current campaign.

He lost his shirt number ahead of the new season and, with Marseille interested in a deal, is eager to leave the club after losing the trust of manager Mark Hughes.

Writing extensively on his Twitter account, he said: “Marseille won again … Allez les Marseillais. I am hopeful that things will be sorted out soon. Other clubs are in but I only want to play in Marseille. This is the place for me. Hopefully, QPR and Marseille can finalise the deal in the next few days. My heart is already in the Velodrome.

“Not gonna cry about it. Maybe it’s just time to move on. I enjoyed parts of last season and believe I am more than capable of playing this year. But the manager doesn’t. Such is life. I have no problem with this as it’s my fault I am banned for 12 (10 now) games. When a person makes a decision he has to stand by that. I respect Hughes for this. I don’t agree but accept his decision.

“I am not the type of player to sit on the sidelines and take the cash. It’s not me. I could do that for the next three years but it’s not me. I want to play football. Hopefully, the QPR fans will accept that. I offered to resign from the club/contract when I got my ban.

“@tonyfernandes and @Amit_Bhatia99 will testify that I am telling the truth. I accepted my punishment from the FA and the club for my behaviour against Man City like a man.

“I could have appealed as is my right. I choose not to out of respect. But when I returned to the club, I am forced to train away from the 1st team. I am stripped of the captaincy. Then, made to train at 3pm. Then, I am hawked around on loan. Then, I have my shirt number taken without any notice. Then, I read I wouldn’t have been signed had the current regime been in place.

“I accepted all this. I never once spoke out of turn or angrily towards anybody. I am a man. I can only take so much. I want to leave. I hope to move on with my career, with my life. If that is in France, so be it. I don’t want to be disrespectful to QPR but enough is enough.

“Good night people. I’ve said enough for today. I’ll get in trouble. No doubt. But this is how it is. This is life!”

Juve wants Dzeko

●  Juventus are still searching for a striker before the end of the transfer window and have confirmed that they are tracking Edinson Cavani, Fernando Llorente and Edin Dzeko.

The reigning Serie A champions were also reportedly in talks with Barcelona and David Villa according to the Spanish press who claimed the Bianconeri had offered him a four-year deal worth €8 million per season.

However, director general Beppe Marotta told Mundo Deportivo this was untrue and instead went public on the type of player he is hunting for.

“I can rule out any interest or negotiations for David Villa,” he said. “He is a great player but not the type we are looking for and nobody has talked with our permission with his agent or Barcelona.

“We want a striker in the style of Edinson Cavani or Llorente, who are our primary targets along with Edin Dzeko.”