Roberto Mancini has denied rumours that he is in talks about taking over the Italian national side but has hinted that that situation could change in the summer.
Since losing to Sweden for a place in the World Cup Finals there has been intense speculation that the former Manchester City boss would take charge of his national side.
Mancini has been in charge of Zenit St Petersburg since June last year and is under pressure to deliver in the Europa League ahead of playing in next season’s Champions League.
Zenit’s budget isn’t to take part in the Europa League with the official club website carrying news about reports that their manager met with Alessandro Costacurta to discuss becoming the next boss of the Italian national side.
“I never spoke with Costacurta, I’ve heard this but it’s not true,” Mancini stated. “ My head is on this game and this season. Things can change at the end of the season, but my priority is Celtic tomorrow and the rest of the championship. All the words in the newspapers are not true.”
Mancini’s claim that things may change at the end of the season won’t be appreciated by his current employers.
Zenit are currently in second place in the Russian League eight points behind leaders Lokomotiv Moscow but only a pint ahead of fourth places Krasnodar with the top three qualifying for the Champions League.
