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City Star Yaya Touré 'wanted to join Inter’, Lombardo says
Lombardo and Mancini played together at the Stadio Marassi from 1989 until 1995, and since then the duo have been close confidants and friends.
“I know that Touré was close to sign with Inter”, Lombardo said during the TV show, whose anchor happens to be former West Ham star Paolo Di Canio.
“He was Mancini’s Number 1 target last summer. The player has already agreed to join his former manager in Italy. Something must have gone wrong in the negotiations between the two clubs”.
Roberto Mancini coached the Ivorian International during his four year spell at the Etihad Stadium and it is no secret that the Italian manager wanted to bring the 32-year-old at San Siro during the past summer transfer window.
By the way, once Manchester City turned down Inter's approach for their midfielder, the Beneamata pounced on AS Monaco star Geoffrey Kondogbia, signing him for € 40 million.