Wenger angry after Mancini targets Nasri

MANCHESTER, England, July 16 (Reuters) - Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger responded angrily on Saturday after his Manchester
City counterpart Roberto Mancini said he would like to sign the
London club's France forward Samir Nasri by the end of this
month. 

Wenger, giving a news conference after his side drew 1-1
with Hangzhou Greentown in Yiwu, China in the second match of
their pre-season Asian tour, said Mancini's comments were
"absolutely out of order." 

In an interview with Sky Sports broadcast earlier on
Saturday, Mancini said he wanted to sign Nasri and Sergio Aguero
from Atletico Madrid, breaking the unwritten manager's rule of
not talking about another club's players. 

Wenger gave an angry response when asked for his view of
Mancini's comments.

"They are absolutely out of order. I don't think these
comments are allowed. They are against the rules, the basic
rules of football... It is purely indiscretion. 

"We don't make comments on players who are under contract at
other clubs and it's time football in England came back to these
basic rules." 

When asked if he thought Mancini had been disrespectful
Wenger said: "I cannot say otherwise, because these comments are
absolutely out of order. I don't give it more importance than
that because we can live with it. We just don't think it's
right." 

Managers usually avoid naming players they would like to
sign but Mancini broke that convention by telling Sky Sports
News he would not only like to sign Nasri but also Aguero if the
Argentine's international team mate Carlos Tevez leaves City. 

Aguero, 23, has been the subject of widespread speculation
that he will move to England, with Chelsea also reportedly
showing an interest, while Tevez wants to leave City for South
America saying he needs to be closer to his children. 

Mancini said: "Aguero is a player that can play for
Manchester City because he is young and he is a good player like
Carlos.  

"He can score a lot of goals and can play with Mario
(Balotelli), with Edin (Dzeko)... it could be that he joins." 

Aguero has also been linked with a move to Atletico's city
rivals Real Madrid, as well as Juventus.  


NASRI HOPE 

Mancini was also candid about signing Nasri from Premier
League rivals Arsenal. 

Nasri has one year left on his contract, although Wenger has
said he wants to keep him even if the forward does not renew his
deal and would allow him to leave for nothing next year. 

Mancini told Sky: "Samir is under contract with Arsenal.
Also for Samir it depends on many things." 

Asked if City had made a bid for the 24-year-old Frenchman,
Mancini said: "I don't know... but for Nasri it is difficult. 

"I hope that we can buy because we need other players, and I
hope that this player can arrive before the end of the month." 

Mancini also said he respected Tevez's decision to want to
leave City for family and personal reasons. 

Corinthians of Brazil have bid about 40 million pounds 
($64.47 million) for Tevez, according to Brazilian media, after
their original 35 million pounds offer was rejected. 

"I do know there has been an increased offer," Tevez's
representative Kia Joorabchian told the BBC on Saturday, "but
the bid only went in on Friday and it's very early stages." 

Mancini added: "When you talk about a player like Carlos
it's difficult because Carlos is a fantastic player, a good guy
for me. 

"Every time I spoke to Carlos he never said to me 'I want to
leave', he said he is missing his daughters, his family 

"I am very sorry if Carlos wants to leave because for me he
is a good man and he's a fantastic player, but I respect his
decision."     

($1 = 0.620 British Pounds)