Pellegrini plays down City talk

Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini has denied that he is about to replace Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.

Mancini is believed to be close to the axe after a disappointing campaign which saw City struggle to push Manchester United for the Premier League title, fail to progress from the group stage of the Champions League and then lose the FA Cup Final to relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

However, many City fans are continuing to back Mancini, who guided the club to their first major trophy in 35 years, when they beat Stoke City in the 2011 FA Cup Final, before securing last season's Premier League title.

Manchester City are refusing to make any official comment on suggestions that 59-year-old Chilean coach Pellegrini is set to take over once Mancini's settlement has been agreed.

Pellegrini has now told Malaga's website: "I categorically deny that I am the new Manchester City coach. I have an agreement with Malaga not to talk to anyone and nothing has been agreed with any other outfit.

"Nothing has been signed and no agreement reached. I've been fortunate enough, and very proud, that every year the big clubs are interested in me. I hope the future of this club will become somewhat clearer in the next few days."

Pellegrini had a successful spell in charge of Villarreal and helped Malaga reach the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League when they came close to eliminating Borussia Dortmund, who are 2.75 to beat Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in next week's Champions League Final.

Pellegrini also spent a season in charge of Real Madrid but was sacked at the end of the 2009-10 campaign after Barcelona pipped them to the Spanish title.

Manchester City are 3.00 to win back the Premier League title next season.

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