Manuel Pellegrini Snubs Brazil Job To Remain at Manchester City

Manuel Pellegrini has reportedly turned down the chance to overhaul the Brazil national team to focus on dominating Europe with Manchester City.

The Chilean spent more than 20 years managing in South America and his vast knowledge of football there meant he was quickly earmarked as a replacement for Luiz Felipe Scolari, who quit as Brazil manager this week.

Scolari walked away from the job following Brazil's embarrassing World Cup exit, which saw the host nation thrashed 7-1 by eventual winners Germany in their semi-final before a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Netherlands in the third place playoff.

But the lure of turning City into one of Europe's most feared sides proved irresistible for Pellegrini, who snubbed the offer to take the reins at Brazil and is targeting a challenge for the Champions League next season, reports in Chile claim.

Pellegrini would have been the first non-native manager in Brazil's history but it is thought the five-time World Cup winners are now willing to look overseas to find a new manger who can overhaul the country's football setup after a series of disappointing performances.

In the wake of Brazil's 7-1 demolition, three-time World Cup winner Zico said it wad time to appoint "new people with new thoughts about how to play the Brazilian way."

Meanwhile, a City side featuring Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri were humbled 2-0 by Scotish side Dundee in a pre-season friendly at Dens Park.

Negredo and Javi Garcia, whose futures at the Etihad Stadium-club is uncertain as Pellegrini looks to axe at least one overseas player to meet Premier League and Champions League quotas, were second half substitutes as they went down to goals from Gary Harkins and Luka Tankulic.

City will now head to Midlothain to play Hearts before jetting off to the United States for a tour that includes fixtures against AC Milan, Liverpool and Olympiakos.