Taken from more than one source.
Roberto Mancini has refused to rule out a move for Robin van Persie (has he?), but admitted that luring Edinson Cavani from Napoli looked like mission impossible.
The Manchester City boss has long admired Uruguay striker Cavani and has been linked with a renewed bid for the 25-year-old in the last few days.
However, with Ezequiel Lavezzi set to leave Napoli for a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Serie A club are determined to hold on to their other star striker.
Cavani is a Napoli player - it's impossible to take him,' Mancini told Italian Sky Sport 24.
However, the Premier League-winning coach was more coy when asked about Van Persie, who has a year left to run on his contract at the Emirates Stadium.
'Van Persie is an Arsenal player, I won't say anything,' he explained.
Mancini will have to offload some of his fringe strikers if he is to bolster the attack this summer, and also has a bloated roster in other positions.
But he said he was keen to hold on to left back Aleksandr Kolarov, who has attracted attention from Inter Milan and Juventus after struggling to win a first-team place at the Etihad Stadium.
'Kolarov is a great full back and a great person,' said Mancini. 'I would like to keep him.
'Many teams want our players, which means we have done a good job. I want Aleksandr to stay and I know his value.
Also:
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has stuck the boot in on Wayne Rooney after his England side's exit from Euro 2012 at the hands of Italy by claiming the 26-year-old was outshone by Mario Balotelli during the quarter-final clash.
Rooney was a peripheral figure as Roy Hodgson's side struggled to contain Italy in Sunday's quarter-final in Kiev, and Cesare Prandelli's outfit eventually prevailed on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
And Mancini has hit back at those who have questioned Balotelli's part in the victory after missing a number of gilt-edged chances, saying that his City marksman outperformed Rooney.
"I think perhaps many are underestimating what [Balotelli] did," Mancini told the Corriere dello Sport. "He was always at the heart of the game, had five or six chances, and was a bit unlucky.
"But we want to compare him with Rooney, who we only noticed when it came to penalties. 'Super Mario' did much better, and he's a great striker we must support all the way."
The Premier League-winning manager went on to praise the play of Prandelli's side, who controlled much of the last-eight fixture on their way to a semi-final meeting with Germany.
"The Azzurri dominated almost the entire match, by far and away, as if they came down from another planet," he proclaimed. "In the second half and in extra time, they crushed England," he added.
"They took my breath away as I waited for the killer goal. That it did not come was only down to tiny details. Beyond Balotelli I saw a great Italy.
"Prandelli also made changes very well while Hodgson thought only to defend himself and had no effect. When [Antonio] Nocerino and [Alessandro] Diamanti came on, they gave a great boost."
So it looks like we won't be signing a left back unless Kolarov wants out.
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