Mancini: Manchester City not proven guilty, double contract not my issue

Italy coach Roberto Mancini addressed fresh allegations linked to his former club Manchester City at a press conference ahead of Italy’s match with Turkey, insisting he does not view the club as proven guilty and distancing himself from the reported “double contract”.

“I don't think Manchester City has been found guilty. On the contrary. That's not an issue that concerns me, but it is not new either. It has been mentioned from time to time over the last 4-5 years. Manchester City is not guilty and the question about the double contract is not mine, but theirs, if it exists,” Mancini said.

Details of the case

Reports emerged stating Manchester City were declared guilty on 114 of 115 charges alleging various financial improprieties between 2009 and 2018. That span includes the four years during which Mancini served as the club’s manager.

The allegations refer to payments to the Italian outside the club’s official accounting records and a separate agreement that purportedly increased his pay by more than double. It is claimed Mancini signed a contract worth £1.45 million per year when he took charge in 2009, while also receiving £1.75 million per year for four days as a consultant to Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi, a club also owned by Sheikh Mansour.

Manchester City have denied this specific allegation and, according to the same reports, have rejected all other charges for which they have already been found guilty. Mancini said he did not consider the verdict conclusive and maintained the matter of the alleged double contract was a club-level issue, not his personal responsibility.

Photo: press material from the event