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Mourinho issues Mancini warning

Cindy Garcia-Bennett,Pa
Monday 21 December 2009 12:00 GMT
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(GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho believes Roberto Mancini will enjoy life at Manchester City although he warned his predecessor at Inter Milan that the Premier League is "completely different" to Serie A.

Mancini will appear at his first press conference as City manager later today after being named as the replacement for the sacked Mark Hughes on Saturday evening.

Mourinho had a hugely successful spell at Chelsea before joining Inter and he believes Mancini, who has been out of work since leaving the Nerazzurri in May 2008, is a good fit for ambitious City.

"I want to wish the best of luck to my colleague Roberto Mancini for his appointment at Manchester City," Mourinho told Sky Italia.

"It will be a great and special experience for him to test himself in a very different reality to Italian football.

"The Premier League is completely different to what he has known so far.

"Mancini is a good coach and has an owner (Sheikh Mansour) who spends a lot of money.

"I don't see why he shouldn't be happy in England."

One man who won't be following Mancini to Eastlands, according to his current employers, is Inter striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli has already been earmarked as a potential target for Mancini in the January transfer window but Inter president Massimo Moratti insists the 19-year-old is going nowhere.

"I think they (Manchester City) have made a great signing (in Mancini)," said Moratti.

"But they should not inquire about Balotelli for January because we are not selling him."

Balotelli, who is under contract with the Nerazzurri until 2011, has made just six league starts for Mourinho's side this campaign.

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