Mancini rejects Ansaldi but keeps his options open

Ian Herbert
Saturday 09 January 2010 01:00 GMT
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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed suggestions that he might be about to move for the Argentine defender Cristian Ansaldi, suggesting that Wayne Bridge meets his requirements for the left-back spot.

Mancini did not rule out further defensive reinforcements – his former centre-back Ivan Cordoba is one player in whom he has an interest – though Rubin Kazan's Ansaldi, the subject of suggestions of a £4m move, does not appear to be among them. "No, in that position we have Bridge," Mancini said. "In seven days he will have recovered." Bridge has been missing from the Chelsea side since early December with a knee injury.

Mancini also has Nedum Onuoha and Joleon Lescott back from injury this month, which the Italian suggested will give him the opportunity to weigh up whether further defenders are required to shore up what has been the weak point of the City side. "Now we have time to see how other players have recovered. Then we will decide [whether to buy more.]''

Onuoha has spoken of the importance of not overlooking City's youth contingent, with Everton boss David Moyes weighing in to that debate when he said Patrick Vieira's arrival from Internazionale would damage the prospects of the younger players.

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