• Premier League

Pellegrini claims verbal agreement with City

ESPN staff
May 29, 2013

Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that he has a verbal agreement with Manchester City to become their next manager.

Pellegrini, who is is set to leave Malaga following this weekend's final round of La Liga fixtures, has been touted as the favourite to succeed Roberto Mancini ever since the Italian was relieved of his duties at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.

The Chilean stated on Sunday that City are among a number of "very good options" he has on offer, with Roma, Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain also believed to be interested.

However, he has now gone one step further, confirming that an arrangement with the Premier League club is already in place.

"I have a verbal agreement with them and I hope it is carried out," he said in an interview with the Canal Sur television station on Wednesday.

"As of today, I don't have a signed contract. It is true that Manchester City have shown a lot of interest that I become their coach and I have had conversations with them.

"Until things have been signed, you cannot say everything is completely done."

Pellegrini guided Malaga to the quarter-finals of the Champions League this term, losing to eventual runners-up Borussia Dortmund in controversial circumstances.

The 59-year-old also led the Spanish outfit to their highest ever league finish the season before, finishing up in fourth spot.

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