Roberto Mancini has distanced himself from Manchester City's financial rule breaches, declaring the club's legal troubles are no longer his problem. Speaking ahead of Italy's Nations League clash against Turkey on Monday, the current Italian national team manager brushed aside questions about alleged misconduct during his tenure at the Premier League club, stating the matter "is not an issue that concerns me." His comments come after an independent panel found City guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League, a decision that has sent shockwaves through English football's elite division.
The charges spanning 2009-10 to 2017-18 included 14 instances of failing to provide accurate details regarding player and manager payments—a period that directly overlaps with Mancini's three and a half years at the helm. During his tenure, Mancini delivered silverware that had eluded City for decades: the FA Cup triumph in 2011 and the club's first top-flight championship in 44 years in 2012. However, German publication Der Spiegel previously alleged that Mancini received substantial compensation through a fictitious consultancy contract with Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira, allegedly exceeding his City managerial salary when excluding bonuses and incentives.
When confronted about the allegations, Mancini adopted a dismissive stance, emphasizing that City's guilt and the circumstances surrounding his remuneration are matters for the club to address. "Manchester City has not been found guilty, and the alleged double contract is not my concern. It's their issue, not mine," he stated, adding that the subject has been "discussed for the last four or five years." The independent panel's findings now leave City facing an uncertain future regarding sanctions, with the Premier League yet to determine consequences. Meanwhile, other Premier League clubs are understood to have sought legal counsel regarding potential compensation claims stemming from the violations.
The investigation that culminated in Friday's ruling began in February 2023 following a four-year inquiry into City's financial practices. An independent commission hearing commenced in September 2024 and continued for approximately 12 weeks behind closed doors. City released a statement affirming they have "diligently respected due process for eight years," though the club indicated the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. As the football world awaits the determination of sanctions, Mancini's detachment from the affair underscores the temporal and emotional distance now separating him from his Manchester City chapter.