SURROUNDED on all sides, snipers shooting from every angle as even loyal troops reluctantly break ranks; a victim of his own stubborn refusal to listen to sense. The end game, it seems, has finally arrived.

Roberto Mancini remains hopeful of tying up a deal for Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri in the next two days but admits it would be a “big problem” if the Frenchman played for the Gunners in their Champions League clash with Udinese on Wednesday.

The agent of Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale has brushed aside reports linking his client with a move to Juventus this month.