Manchester City unlikely to sign Robin van Persie – Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini has played down Manchester City’s chances of signing Arsenal’s Robin van Persie this summer.

Van Persie is refusing to sign a new deal at The Emirates with just a year remaining on his current contract.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus are understood to be the front-runners for his signature, but Mancini appears to have all but ruled out the possibility of the striker moving to the Etihad Stadium.

“Van Persie? No, I don’t think he will come here,” said Mancini.

Van Persie picked up the PFA Players’ Player of the Year Award last season after scoring 30 league goals in 38 games for the north London outfit.

And City’s football dvelopment executive Patrick Vieira, a former team-mate of the Netherlands international at Arsenal, is not surprised the Gunners captain has attracted interest from Europe’s top clubs.

“When there is a player like Van Persie with only one year of his contract left, all the big clubs are trying to buy him,” Vieira said.

“Juventus, Manchester United and even Manchester City because Roberto Mancini likes him so much. But for now, Van Persie plays for Arsenal.”

Carlos Tévez, Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov have all been linked with moves away from Eastlands this summer, but Vieira insists the City trio remain central to Mancini’s first-team plans.

“What I know is these three players are pivotal for us. They are happy at Manchester City and we don’t want them to go,” he added.

“Manchester City are playing to win all the trophies and we need a strong team.”

Open a bet365 account with £10 or more and you'll get a free bet of up to £200 on us. Click here for more information.

Like The Sport Review on Facebook:

Read more on: Arsenal, Manchester City, patrick vieira, Premier League, Roberto Mancini, Robin van Persie, video.