By NEIL CUSTIS
FURIOUS Roberto Mancini is heading for the Manchester City exit door claiming he has been knifed in the back.
The Italian boss found out he is being moved aside just a year after delivering the club’s first title in 44 years.
But it is the sly way it has been done which has left him feeling bitter. Mancini, who could be on his way as early as today, was not even aware of his fate after City’s shock 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by Wigan.
SunSport can reveal Mancini had dinner with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano the night before their hugely disappointing Wembley display.
And there was no hint from them his 3½-year reign was coming to an end. Nor was there after their defeat.
It was not until mid-afternoon yesterday Mancini found out his fate second hand — and even then nobody from the club had contacted him face to face to either confirm or deny speculation.
Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain have secretly been negotiating with Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini behind Mancini’s back for weeks.
Meanwhile, Mancini had been dealing with the pair over transfer targets for next season and believed he had their full support. He was also convinced Al Mubarak was fully behind him.
A source close to Mancini said: “All the dealings Roberto has had with Al Mubarak and Begiristain were positive.
“He believed unless they were playing the most divisive game then he was their manager for the long term. There is a real feeling he has been knifed in the back.”
