Roberto Mancini: Manchester City not guilty, double contract not my problem
Roberto Mancini has publicly distanced himself from the Manchester City financial charges case, saying the club were not found guilty and that the alleged double contract is not his problem. The former City manager spoke after returning to the Italy role, sharpening one strand of the long-running Premier League case.
- Who: Roberto Mancini, former Manchester City manager and current Italy manager
- What: Mancini responded to allegations that City failed to disclose full details of his remuneration between 2009-10 and 2012-13
- Key claim: Mancini said: "Manchester City are not guilty and the double contract is not my problem, but theirs if anything"
- City's case: Charged by the Premier League in February 2023 with multiple alleged breaches; hearing concluded December 2024, process still live
- City's stance: The club strongly denies wrongdoing and insists it is confident of clearing its name
- What's at stake: The legitimacy of City's honours between 2009-10 and 2017-18, including eight Premier League titles
What was said
"I don't think Manchester City were found guilty, on the contrary."
"It's not a problem that concerns me, but it's not a new thing."
"Manchester City are not guilty and the double contract is not my problem, but theirs if anything."
Mancini's words are notable because he does not merely deny personal involvement. He asserts that the wider case has not produced a finding of guilt and pushes responsibility for any disclosure failure towards the club. That framing matters because the Premier League's allegation concerns whether City provided complete details of his pay during a transformative period for the club. Mancini declined to accept any share of that responsibility.
The comments also carry a timing edge. They arrive as the financial rules case moves deeper into territory that could carry major consequences for one of English football's most successful modern clubs. Mancini's intervention does not settle anything, but it adds a fresh voice and a new emphasis to a saga that still has some distance to run.
The numbers
- 2009-10 to 2012-13: the period covering the allegation that Manchester City failed to provide complete details of Mancini's pay.
- £1.45 million per year: the figure widely discussed for Mancini's City contract.
- £1.75 million annually: the additional sum linked to consultancy work elsewhere within the ownership network, including Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira.
- February 2023: the month the Premier League charged Manchester City with a large number of alleged breaches.
- 2009-10 to 2017-18: the span for certain reporting matters.
- 2018 to 2023: the years covered by the separate allegation around co-operation.
- December 2024: the month a hearing concluded.
- 26 major trophies: Manchester City's haul since the 2008 takeover, including eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League, crowned by the Treble in 2023.
Manchester City's defence over the financial charges
Senior figures at Manchester City have continued to push back robustly. The club's line remains that they have respected the process and retain full belief in their legal position. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak publicly reinforced that stance, stressing both confidence and determination as proceedings continue.
"The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began."
"There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies."
"While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity."
That language underlines the club's strategy. They are not softening their position, nor preparing the ground for compromise in public. Instead, they are framing the matter as a legal and regulatory contest in which they still expect to succeed. The messaging also attempts to reassure supporters that internal belief has not been shaken during a prolonged period of uncertainty.
Why Mancini's intervention sharpens the legacy debate
Roberto Mancini managed Manchester City during the exact years now central to the allegation. He delivered the 2011 FA Cup, ending a long wait for major silverware, and the 2011-12 Premier League title sealed by Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time goal against Queens Park Rangers. Those achievements helped redefine the club's place in English football, and they sit inside the period under scrutiny.
By separating his role as an employee from the club's obligations around disclosure, Mancini creates a clear line. The Premier League's case is about what City reported, not what Mancini earned in isolation. That distinction is legally important, but it is also politically charged, because it invites the question of who inside the club was responsible for ensuring full disclosure.
City's response has never been to accept the premise. The club denies wrongdoing, refuses to negotiate in public and insists the process must run its course. Mancini's comments do not change that defence, but they add a former manager's testimony to the noise around it. The more voices that enter the story, the harder it becomes for City to control the narrative outside the hearing room.
Talking points
- Does Mancini's claim that City "were not found guilty" carry any weight, given the hearing has concluded but no final verdict has been delivered?
- If the allegation is about non-disclosure of his pay, can Mancini credibly say it is "not my problem" when the figures relate directly to him?
- City's public confidence has not wavered, but does Khaldoon Al Mubarak's refusal to share details suggest the legal risk is greater than the club admits?
- If any sanctions ever touch the 2011 FA Cup or 2011-12 Premier League title, how should those achievements be remembered?
What happens next
The wider Manchester City case remains live after the hearing concluded in December 2024. The club continue to deny wrongdoing and expect to clear their name, while the Premier League process still has a long way to run. The next decisive moment will be the outcome of that process, with the legitimacy of City's honours between 2009-10 and 2017-18 at stake. Until then, Mancini's intervention will keep the disclosure strand in focus.
Frequently asked questions
Did Roberto Mancini say Manchester City were found guilty?
No. Mancini said: "I don't think Manchester City were found guilty, on the contrary." He also said City "are not guilty" and that the double contract is "not my problem, but theirs if anything".
What is the double contract allegation about Mancini's pay?
The case includes an allegation that Manchester City failed to provide complete details of Mancini's pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13. It centres on claims he had one agreement as City manager and another arrangement connected to Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira.
Has Manchester City been charged by the Premier League?
Yes. The Premier League charged Manchester City in February 2023 with a large number of alleged breaches covering financial reporting, disclosure of payments and co-operation with the investigation. City strongly deny wrongdoing.
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