City were ‘very close’ to signing van Persie

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has claimed he was “very close” to signing Robin van Persie last summer.

The prolific Dutchman was heavily linked with the Barclays Premier League champions before opting to sign for rivals Manchester United in a reported £22million deal.

Mancini has previously admitted he was interested in signing the 29-year-old but has only now indicated how strongly City pursued him.

The Italian said: “We wanted Van Persie because we knew he could be an important player.

“He is totally different from our other strikers. We wanted him for the Champions League and for the Premier League.

“We were very close. We were sure he was for us but this did not happen and now we can do nothing.

“We were very close three or four months before he joined United.”

Mancini said he knew why City failed in their bid but would not give a reason.

When asked if it related to money, Mancini said: “It is not the problem.”

Van Persie has hit the ground running at Old Trafford and has already scored 17 times for United in all competitions.

With United beginning 2013 with a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League, Mancini believes Van Persie is the key difference between the two sides from last season.

He said: “I think Van Persie, for United, is an important player.

“It is clear he changed this situation. In this moment, the difference is this.”

Mancini has often bemoaned the output of his own strikers in recent weeks.

Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli have all struggled for goals of late — a problem highlighted in the shock loss at Sunderland on St Stephen’s Day.

Dzeko responded by scoring twice at Norwich on Saturday and Aguero was also on target in a 4-3 win.

Mancini insists he retains faith in his attacking options even though he did not get the player he wanted last summer.

He said: “I am happy, very happy. Last year we were the team that scored the most goals in the Premier League.

“But when you can improve your team with another top player, this is important.

“With Van Persie we would play with three strikers sometimes.”

While Mancini has admitted injuries and African Nations Cup absences may force him into the transfer market in January, he is adamant he will not be selling players.

It had widely been assumed City would need to move players on to bring in new faces.

The most concerning absence in the coming weeks will be that of midfield talisman Yaya Toure, who along with brother Kolo and striker Abdul Razak will join up with Ivory Coast for international duty this week.

City had hoped the trio could leave after Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Watford but now it seems today’s Stoke clash will be their last appearance.

Mancini said: “I don’t understand why we lose three players for the African Cup. We are the only team that loses three players.”

Mancini was involved in controversy on St Stephen’s Day when he criticised the performance of referee Kevin Friend at Sunderland by saying he “ate too much for Christmas”.

The Football Association has written to Mancini for an explanation but the Italian, who will stress he was joking, has not yet responded.

He said: “I thought they (FA) were on holiday for Christmas. I didn’t receive a letter. The post is too slow in this moment.

“But I joked. It was a joke when I said the referee had a big lunch for Christmas.”

When asked if he might escape punishment, Mancini said: “They can do what they want.”

Meanwhile, Kenwyne Jones knows Stoke have their work cut out if they are to keep their unbeaten run going against the champions, but he is confident one thing that will not be questioned is the Potters’ commitment.

Tony Pulis’ side are on an unbeaten run of 10 Barclays Premier League games and have not lost at the Britannia Stadium in the league since February 4.

Both those records looked set to come to an end when they trailed Southampton 3-1 at half-time on Saturday and were still a goal behind, and down to 10 men, heading into the 90th minute.

But substitute Cameron Jerome proved to be the hero with a stunning 30-yard volley that earned Stoke a point and kept them in eighth.

Jones said: “We are doing well. We had a few slip-ups but credit to the team, the manager and the fans for the run we have been on.

“The next game is the most important game for us because we’re going to the home of the champions.

“Here at Stoke City we play for 90 minutes. If we get beat, we get beat, but we’ll never give up.

“This is our job. No-one wants to lose so you’re not just going to stand there and accept defeat.”