Mancini appears to admit 'double contract' at Man City and says 'it isn't my problem but theirs'
The former City manager doubled his £1.45m base salary by advising a club in Abu Dhabi, according to Der Spiegel evidence. He insisted City are "not guilty" despite the verdict on 114 charges.
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Roberto Mancini appeared to admit having "a double contract" while managing Manchester City, but insisted the club are not guilty after being found to have breached Premier League financial rules.
Now in charge of the Italy national team, Mancini was asked about the allegations at a press conference before Italy's Nations League match with Turkey on Monday.
He said: "It's not a problem that concerns me. It's not something new because every four or five years this comes up. Manchester City is not guilty and the fact of having a double contract isn't my problem but theirs, probably."
One element of the case against City is an investigation into payment details for players and managers between 2009 and 2018. The German magazine Der Spiegel obtained evidence that Mancini doubled his base salary of £1.45 million by advising a club in Abu Dhabi.
What did Mancini achieve at City?
He led City to their first Premier League title in 2012, the famous Aguero moment, and also won the FA Cup. Those were the first trophies of Sheikh Mansour's ownership and laid the foundations for everything that followed. He left in 2013 after defeat by Wigan in the FA Cup final.
Where does this fit in the charges?
City have been found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The double-contract allegation falls squarely within that timeframe. City have always denied wrongdoing and are expected to appeal.
The phrasing of Mancini's response, acknowledging a double contract while simultaneously declaring the club "not guilty," is likely to attract significant scrutiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did Roberto Mancini say about his Manchester City contract?
- Mancini appeared to acknowledge having a secondary contract while managing the club, but stated that the arrangement was not his problem and defended the club's innocence.
- What are the allegations regarding Mancini's salary?
- According to Der Spiegel, Mancini allegedly doubled his £1.45 million base salary by taking on an advisory role for a club in Abu Dhabi during his time in Manchester.
- What is the status of the financial charges against Manchester City?
- The source report states that an independent commission has found the club guilty of the vast majority of over 100 charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules.