Manchester City could not spend more money – Mancini

City were following Roma’s Daniele de Rossi and Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago very closely but decided to sign Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

Mancini told The Independent: "Gago is a player we liked a lot. We couldn't spend any more money also for the question of financial fair play.

"De Rossi is one of the best midfielders in the world but I don't believe he will ever leave Roma. So in midfield we signed Hargreaves, who was out of contact."

Mancini's assistant David Platt added: "We needed a central midfield player but unfortunately in terms of players going out and bringing in transfer fees, a lot have gone out on loan, so fees haven't come in for them. You have to get creative."