ROBERTO MANCINI could be set for a stunning return to the Premier League as Manchester United eye up a shock move for the City legend.
German coach Ralf Rangnick has taken over at Old Trafford until the end of the season on a six-month deal, with two additional years in a consultancy role.
And while the former Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig manager could get the job full-time if he impresses in the rest of the current campaign, Man Utd’s plan remains to appoint a long-term successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer.
According to The Telegraph, Mancini has emerged a “wildcard candidate” to secure the position at Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The 57-year-old is in demand following his Euro 2020 triumph with Italy in the summer.
But the Azzurri could be set to miss out on a place at the Qatar World Cup next year as they missed out on an automatic qualification place following a goalless draw with Northern Ireland earlier this month.
They will now have to beat North Macedonia in the semi-finals of the play-offs and then either Italy or Turkey in the final to reach the tournament.
Failing to qualify for Qatar could lead Italy’s chiefs to sack Mancini less than 12 months after he won them the European Championships.
The Italian has prior experience working in England after a successful spell with United’s rivals Man City.
Mancini spent four years with the club between 2009 and 2013 where he won the Premier League title and FA Cup.
He is fondly remembered at the Etihad for delivering City the most dramatic of title victories when Sergio Aguero’s stoppage time goal saw them dramatically beat United to the league in astonishing fashion.
Since then he has coached Galatasaray, Inter Milan and Zenit St Petersburg before being appointed the Italian national team boss.
If Mancini is not considered for the role at Man Utd, a number of other names are being touted as potential candidates.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino, Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers and Ajax boss Erik ten Hag have all been linked with the job.
But former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has major doubts about United bringing Pochettino to Old Trafford.
He said: “I don’t know if they [Man Utd] can get him [Pochettino]. When you are the coach of a team like Paris Saint-Germain you would like to see it out.
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“But then also if you go to Man United you’re almost going into another type of headache to try to find a way to balance it out, because that is what he’s trying to do right now with Paris Saint-Germain.
“Yes they are winning but the game is not fluid as people would expect it to be.
“I don’t think that he will go, personally.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
