Mancini: I could have signed Torres

Manchester City passed up on the opportunity to sign Fernando Torres before the Spain striker joined Chelsea, according to Roberto Mancini.

In January 2011, City boss Mancini signed Edin Dzeko from German side Wolfsburg, while Torres moved to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool for £50million - roughly twice the price of the Bosnian.

But Mancini revealed it could have been different.

“Two years ago we had a chance,” Mancini was quotes as saying on the Independent website. “We decided for other players, also because of his cost.

“There were four or five strikers, we talked about all of these, and after we decided. We chose Edin because we were missing the qualities he had, [he was] strong in the air and different from Torres.”

Torres has struggled mightily since joining Chelsea, but Mancini is still a fan.

“I think he is a good player,” he said. “Every striker can have a difficult moment but for me he is always dangerous.”