EXCLUSIVE: Man City eye Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone should Manuel Pellegrini leave - 7M sport

EXCLUSIVE: Man City eye Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone should Manuel Pellegrini leave



Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

DIEGO SIMEONE has emerged as the No.1 target to replace Manuel Pellegrini if the Manchester City boss is sacked.

EXCLUSIVE: Man City eye Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone should Manuel Pellegrini leave
TARGET: Diego Simeone guided Atletico Madrid to the La Liga title last season [GETTY]

Pellegrini is feeling the heat following a woeful run of results and the champions will review his position at the end of this season.

Starsport understands club bosses have started considering possible replacements and have made Simeone their preferred choice.

The Atletico Madrid boss led the Spanish outfit to a stunning La Liga title last season and came within minutes of winning the Champions League as well.

The Argentine has become one of the most sought-after bosses in Europe and was on Manchester United’s radar when David Moyes was sacked in 2013.

Pep Guardiola has long been touted as a future City manager due to his close links with Etihad bosses Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain following their time together at Barcelona.

EXCLUSIVE: Man City eye Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone should Manuel Pellegrini leave
PRESSURE: City's domestic form has become a real worry for Manuel Pellegrini [GETTY]

But the Bayern Munich boss is the highest-paid manager in world football on a staggering £12.5m-a-season at the German champions.

Even big-spending City are unkeen to spend that much, so are now considering the merits of Simeone should Pellegrini get the axe.

The pressure on Pellegrini has rocketed following his side’s poor start to the campaign.

City trail Chelsea by eight points in the title race and were knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle at home.

To make matters worse Pellegrini’s men are rock-bottom of their Champions League group after taking just two points from their opening four games.

Starsport understands the City manager still has the backing of club bosses right now and his job is not under immediate threat.

But chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak will reassess the situation in the summer and would not be afraid to axe the Chilean and make his move for Simeone.

It means Pellegrini is now on trial until the end of the season and will have to prove he still has the backing of his superstar squad and is the right man to take them forward.

Pellegrini still has credit in the bank, having landed the Premier League and Capital One Cup in his first season at the helm.

But owner Sheikh Mansour and his right-hand man Al-Mubarak have shown in the past that they are not afraid to act if results are not good enough.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.