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Noisy neighbours

Roberto Mancini: No Manchester City interest in Rooney

‘I can understand Rooney would be upset if he didn’t play but these are things that can happen in every team. After one week is finished.’

MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER Roberto Mancini has rejected speculation linking the club with a move for United striker Wayne Rooney.

Rooney’s future at United has been thrown into the spotlight after he started the 2-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on the bench.

Alex Ferguson has attempted to draw a line under the situation by insisting that Rooney will be at United next season and he has no issues with the striker.

City were interested in the England forward, 27, when he looked set to leave Old Trafford in 2010. But Mancini has played down any suggestion that he could renew their pursuit of their neighbours’ striker.

Mancini said: “I don’t know. I don’t know this situation. I can understand Rooney would be upset if he didn’t play but these are things that can happen in every team. After one week is finished

“I think that Rooney is one of the best strikers in Europe but I think it is difficult he can leave Man United.”

Mancini is set to freshen up his striking options this summer following Mario Balotelli’s move to AC Milan in January. Carlos Tevez will only have one year to run on his contract in the summer and there is also speculation that former Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko could return to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.

The City manager was quoted as saying that Dzeko needs to play on a regular basis, could thrive in Serie A and would cost more than £20 million. And Mancini has refused to rule out selling the Bosnian, 27, who is City’s top Premier League goal-scorer with 13.

He added: “At the moment, there is nothing. In the end, maybe, I don’t know. In the summer, it could be possible. In this moment, there is nothing. We don’t know. Dzeko player is an important player for us. We want that he stays here.”

- © AFP, 2013

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