Tuesday, 11th November, 2014
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has revealed he was ready to sell Edinson Cavani to Roberto Mancini during the Italian's time as Manchester City manager – but Mancini chose to sign Mario Balotelli instead.
Mancini bossed Balotelli at Inter and was keen to reunite with the striker at the Etihad Stadium, to such an extent that he passed on the chance to sign Cavani.
Zamparini, who enjoys a close relationship with Mancini, promised the then-Manchester City manager than he would sell Cavani to the Citizens.
"I praised Cavani to Mancini, who was at Manchester City, but he chose Balotelli", the Palermo president explained to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato.
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"I told him that I did not understand.
"I thought that Edinson was much, much better", Zamparini added.
Cavani eventually moved on from Palermo to Napoli, before switching to Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 for a fee of €64.5m.
Balotelli joined the Citizens in 2010, but was offloaded by a frustrated Mancini in January 2013 to AC Milan; he has since returned to England with Liverpool.
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