Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini has admitted he has a verbal agreement with Manchester City to succeed Roberto Mancini as the club's new manager.

"I have a verbal agreement with them and I hope it is carried out," he said on Wednesday. "As of today, I don't have a signed contract.

"It is true that Manchester City has shown a lot of interest that I become its coach and I have had conversations with it. Until things have been signed, you cannot say everything is completely done."

However, it seems certain Pellegrini will take charge of the 2011/12 English champion after guiding Malaga to within a whisker of the Champions League semifinals in its first season in the competition.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/31/2013 page23)