LONDON - Roberto Mancini has confirmed he was in discussions with Monaco last season to take charge of the French club.On Thursday, the Guardian revealed that Manchester City’s manager held extensive talks with the French second division team with a view joining them at the close of the last campaign. Mancini opted to remain at City after leading them to the Premier League title.He said on Friday: “Last year I was very close with seven, eight teams but I prefer to stay here because I work well here the first three years. Also, if someone thinks we didn’t do a good job – we won three trophies in two years and I’m very happy, we work well.“And now I think the next three or four years will be very important for us. I think that now with Ferran [Soriano, the new chief executive] and [Txiki] Begiristain [appointed last week as director of football] we can work very well – we can improve our team.”Had Mancini been worried about his future when the Monaco deal was on the table? “I sign a contract for the next five years because I believe in this squad, because I can work with serious people like the owner and the chairman, really serious people, and to work with these people is fantastic.“It’s difficult to find people that work well with the manager and for me it’s a fantastic situation. And now I think we have time to improve and build a stronger team.”Pushed that it is warmer in Monaco than Manchester, Mancini joked: “Also Italy. But I think the best place in this moment is this [City]. For the next five years my work, my job will be here.”
