Roberto Mancini has signed five-year deal with Manchester City

Even though the appointment of an Italian coach to the post of Russia manager was a hotly-debated topic last week, Mancini agreed to stay in Manchester till 2017.

The rumors on talks between Russian Football Federation and Mancini appeared in press recently as journalists allegedly found the contract that mentioned the salary and the details of the agreement. The reports were not confirmed by the sides and now it is clear the whole thing was a canard.

The manager led Manchester City to the Premier League title last season and captured the FA Cup in 2011.

As City interim chief executive John MacBeath noted: ‘This new agreement allows Roberto to focus on the challenge of guiding a team which is capable not only of defending the Premier League title, but one which can compete for European honors.’

Mancini himself told the official club’s website: ‘Manchester City is a fantastic football club; I am very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead. ‘He also added that ‘I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City for a further five years. The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous’.