Pellegrini Denies Manchester City Talks

Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini has rubbished suggestions regarding his imminent appointment at Manchester City with the Chilean boss remaining committed to the La Liga side.

City boss Roberto Mancini is expected to be sacked this week after an unsuccessful defence of the club's Premier League title, a second successive group phase exit from the Champions League and defeat in the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic.

Despite Mancini rebuffing claims he is set to be replaced at the helm at the Etihad Stadium, odds on Pellegrini taking over from the Italian plummeted over the weekend.

But following his side's goalless draw with Sevilla, Pellegrini himself denied reports he was set for the Premier League this summer, instead plotting talks regarding the new campaign with club president Moayad Shatat.

"I categorically deny that I am the new Manchester City coach, nothing has been signed and no agreement reached," said Pellegrini.

"I've been fortunate enough, and very proud, that every year the big clubs are interested in me.

"I have an agreement with Málaga not to talk to anyone and nothing has been agreed with any other outfit. I hope the future of this club will become somewhat clearer in the next few days."

"We'll see what happens later, but neither the coach nor players are thinking about anything else," he added. "Regarding staying, possibilities always exist in every way. I have not signed with Manchester, or to Naples, or to Rome, or PSG.

"I hope in the next fortnight we will make plans for next year, I imagine that in the summer break there will be meetings. Shatat takes care of the football here and is responsible. I have very good communication with him. I hope [talks are] planned for the future in these fifteen days,

"I have no agreement with anyone. I still maintain my interest to continue living here in Malaga as soon as I retire."

Despite a trophyless nine-years in La Liga, Pellegrini has earned a reputation for overachievement, taking Villarreal to the Champions League semi-final in 2006 before splitting both Real Madrid and Barcelona two seasons later in the league.

His switch to Real Madrid might have seen him accumulate the club's record points total, but the spell at the Bernabeu lasted just one season after finishing behind Barcelona having assembled the most expensive squad in Spanish league history in the summer, signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United among others.

A three-year tenure at Malaga has followed where Pellegrini has guided the club to within a minute of the Champions League semi-final while the club lay on the brink of financial ruin, with UEFA having banned them from European competition next season.

Should City owner Sheikh Mansour remove Mancini, who has won two trophies in his three full seasons in charge, he will be seeking the third manager of his spell at the club having sacked Mark Hughes in 2009.

"I don't know, for me nothing will happen," Mancini said after the cup final defeat to Wigan. "I don't need to talk about me and my future, I have a four-year contract. It's true that every contract can be broken but I don't think they need to talk about me."