Edin Dzeko reveals Roberto Mancini tried to bring him to Inter, and insists he had “no problem” with Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.
The Bosnian international joined Roma this summer after leaving the English side, but could have been reunited with Mancio at San Siro.
“Did Mancini try to sign me?” Dzeko considered in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
Edin Dzeko reveals Roberto Mancini tried to bring him to Inter, and insists he had “no problem” with Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.
The Bosnian international joined Roma this summer after leaving the English side, but could have been reunited with Mancio at San Siro.
“Did Mancini try to sign me?” Dzeko considered in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Yes, it was before the end of the season, but nothing really happened and now I’m happy here. He was the one who brought me to City from Germany, to play at the highest level.
“We won, and we had good times. Sometimes I got angry when I didn’t play, and he knew it, but he never let it make a difference, and rightly so.
“Sometimes in England they called me ‘SuperSub’, because when I came off the bench I’d score, and I didn’t like it. It’s not true that I was happy when he left though.
“We achieved great things, and I want to repeat them with [Roma Coach Rudi] Garcia.
“Pellegrini? I had no problem with him, but I wasn’t really getting a chance, so I realised that the relationship had no future.
“I wanted to come here, or I wouldn’t have made the move. As a kid, Italy was the best country in the world for football, and I wanted to test myself.
“Of course, new stadiums can help with growth, as happened in England and Germany.
“As for any scandals, it’s better not to talk about things I wasn’t present for. Maybe some things are true and some arent.”
Dzeko will face Mancini’s Nerazzurri at San Siro tomorrow, and was asked who he’d take to Roma from Inter’s side.
“Is it ok if I take a couple? [Stevan] Jovetic, because he’s a great player, and Icardi.
“Stevan is a phenomenon, I’m glad he’s doing well, and I wish him the best… but from the next game [after Roma] onward.”
Dzeko was a teammate of Milan striker Mario Balotelli at City, and insists the Italian international is very different from his portrayal in the media.
“Mario is a great lad, and a friend of mine. The British tabloids often exaggerated stories about him, but he has great qualities and he has time to show his ability.
“He can do well in Milan.”
Finally, the former Wolfsburg striker was asked about the best goal in his career.
“Perhaps the one against QPR [Queens Park Rangers] on the final day of the Premier League when we [Man City] won it,” Dzeko recalled.
“To win after so many years was incredible for City. But I can’t say it was better than winning in Germany, because to do it with Wolfsburg is not the same thing as winning it with Bayern [Munich].
“We had so many young players, it was great. It was the same with City, who had never won to the same degree as [Manchester] United.
“In short, I don’t like things easy, but at Roma too we have the strength to do it.”