Mourinho warns Mancini of impending culture shock

December 21, 2009

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has warned Roberto Mancini that he could find the going difficult as the Premier League is “completely different” to Serie A.

But the Internazionale boss, who succeeded Mancini at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also believes that the newly appointed Manchester City manager will enjoy life at Eastlands.

Mancini will appear at his first press conference as City manager later today after being named as the replacement for the sacked Mark Hughes on Saturday evening.

Mourinho had a hugely successful spell at Chelsea before joining Inter and he believes Mancini, who has been out of work since leaving the Nerazzurri in May 2008, is a good fit for ambitious City.

“I want to wish the best of luck to my colleague Roberto Mancini for his appointment at Manchester City,” Mourinho told Sky Italia.

“It will be a great and special experience for him to test himself in a very different reality to Italian football.

“The Premier League is completely different to what he has known so far.

“Mancini is a good coach and has an owner (Sheikh Mansour) who spends a lot of money.

“I don’t see why he shouldn’t be happy in England.”

One man who will not be following Mancini to Eastlands, according to his current employers, is Inter striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli has already been earmarked as a potential target for Mancini in the January transfer window, but Inter president Massimo Moratti insists the 19-year-old is going nowhere.

“I think they (Manchester City) have made a great signing (in Mancini),” said Moratti.

“But they should not inquire about Balotelli for January because we are not selling him.”

Balotelli, who is under contract with the Nerazzurri until 2011, has made just six league starts for Mourinho’s side this campaign.

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