Mancini in Juve frame?

Roberto Mancini has met with Roberto Bettega with an eye to taking over at Juventus next season, according to English newspapers.

The Manchester City manager was in the stands for Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League defeat at Fulham.

That embarrassing exit effectively scuppered Alberto Zaccheroni’s hopes of keeping the job past the summer.

According to the Sunday Mirror, former Inter boss Mancini is the latest man to step into the frame after Fiorentina’s Cesare Prandelli and Rafa Benitez of Liverpool.

The newspaper suggests that Mancini met with director Bettega at Craven Cottage with an eye on a swift return to Serie A.

“It would be hard for Roberto to turn down the Juventus job,” a source was quoted as saying in the Sunday Mirror.

“It is seen as the biggest job in Italian football – the equivalent of being asked to manage Manchester United in England or Real Madrid in Spain.”

Mancini was sacked by Inter after three consecutive Scudetti, including one handed down by the courts in the Calciopoli scandal.

He signed for Manchester City in December on a three-and-a-half-year contract, but has an option to review his future at the end of the season.

It would be an intriguing switch for Mancini, who has already succeeded Zaccheroni on the benches of both Lazio and Inter.

However, due to his strong connection with Inter, it is likely the Juventus fans would react angrily to his appointment.
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