Roberto Mancini says an older player ‘can still make a difference’ for Inter, and calls Yaya Toure ‘a great player’.
It’s well-known that the Nerazzurri Coach would like to reunite with the player he managed at Manchester City, and the tactician hinted that he would have a role for the Ivorian.
Roberto Mancini says an older player ‘can still make a difference’ for Inter, and calls Yaya Toure ‘a great player’.
It’s well-known that the Nerazzurri Coach would like to reunite with the player he managed at Manchester City, and the tactician hinted that he would have a role for the Ivorian.
“[Andrea] Pirlo is one of the best midfielders in Europe over the last 15 years,” Mancini pointed out in his Press conference ahead of the visit of Juventus.
“He made the right choice in leaving Milan and moving to Juve. To find players like that would be great, even at 31 or 32 they could still make a difference in a team like ours.
“Sometimes you’re lucky enough to get them for nothing [as with Juventus and Pirlo], sometimes you have to pay something.
“Toure? We’re talking about a great player, but he belongs to City, we’ll see what will happen.
“It’s possible, but there are others.”
“What did I say when I wished him a Happy Birthday?” Mancini laughed.
“I wrote in English, I won't say what. It’s a private thing.”
With the club having been sanctioned by UEFA for Financial Fair Play violations, would the club have to sell its stars to bring in someone like Toure?
“From what I understand, UEFA seems to appreciate Inter’s strategy. The President [Erick Thohir] will make investments. Inter want to win, and we’ll improve the team.
“[Mateo] Kovacic [of interest to Barcelona] is our player, he has great quality and is still growing.
“He has huge potential for improvement, we’re focused on him and we won’t sell our best players.”