Manchester City FC

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• Manager:Roberto Mancini

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Mancini slams Mariga red tape

05 Feb 2010 - 07:37:44

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hit out at the red tape which prevented him from signing McDonald Mariga on transfer deadline day.

City had agreed a £7million fee with Parma for the Kenya international but the deal fell through when the midfielder was denied a work permit.

To rub salt into Mancini's wounds, his former club, Internazionale, then swooped to sign the 22-year-old following City's failure.

"We had two or three targets but our main aim was to bring Mariga to the club," Mancini told the club's official website.

"We couldn't see any problems so to have the panel rule against granting him a work permit is, I believe, an incredible decision.

"He is a young player and Kenya's most important footballer and considering he's played in Sweden and Italy for the past six years and with relations between Kenya and Britain strong, I just cannot understand why he had his application refused.

"All the top teams in Italy and many others in Europe wanted him so it is very disappointing when we had agreed a deal."