Mancini eyes De Rossi swoop

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Begiristain was considered a key reason for Barcelona's achievements in the past decade, while he occupied the position of sporting director at the club. Recently engaged by Manchester City to carry out a similar role for the Premier League champions, Begiristian will work with Mancini to recruit players for the City first team.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Begiristain and Mancini held their first strategy meeting earlier in the week and the Italian has requested Begiristain make a move for compatriot De Rossi.
City were linked with the midfielder earlier in the summer, but De Rossi pledged his future to Roma. However, media outlets in Italy report that the 2006 World Cup winner is now eager to leave the club after a falling out with manager Zdenek Zeman. The Roma boss has been playing De Rossi on the right of midfield in his preferred 4-3-3 formation, a position the Italian does not feel comfortable in.
On top of his defensive midfield role, De Rossi is adept at playing in a three-man defence, a system that Mancini has struggled to integrate into the City squad. Furthermore, the departure of Yaya Toure for the African Cup of Nations next year leaves the City manager with a gap to fill in the centre of the park.
Nonetheless, Begiristain is believed to be unconvinced by the 29-year old's abilities and has questioned the merits of moving for a player he considers to be too old to fit into City's vision of a young and talented squad. In addition, the Spaniard is also put off by De Rossi's 25 million pound price tag and wage demands.
With Roma general manager Franco Baldini conceding that the club will consider offers for their vice-captain, a bidding war for De Rossi's signature is expected to take place between City and Paris Saint-Germain in January.