English game seduces 'bored' Mancini

If Leicester manager Peter Taylor succeeds in pushing through the paperwork in time, Mancini could play a part in Saturday's home game against Arsenal, despite not having playing a competitive match this season. He will become one of the oldest players to make a Premiership debut.

Mancini, whose Lazio exit followed the appointment of Dino Zoff as Eriksson's replacement, said through a translator: 'The truth is that I left Lazio a week ago and I'm already bored. I've spent time with my family, played around with my kids, but it's not easy for someone like me who has spent 24 years in football, to sit around and do nothing. It feels strange.

'I would have wanted to manage Lazio because I know the players very well, I know the strength and weaknesses of the side. I don't know and I don't want to know why Cragnotti chose Zoff and not me. And I don't want to talk about it.

'Whatever I say could be misinterpreted. Cragnotti and I left each other as friends. One day I would love to be back as manager.

'Resigning from Lazio was an impulsive gesture, but Cragnotti did give me a chance to change my mind. I remain convinced, though, that when a manager leaves it is only right that his assistants should leave as well.'

Mancini trained with Leicester yesterday and is expected to sign this morning. The timing could have been more convenient for Taylor, who admits he would prefer a match-fit Mancini to offer his experience to Leicester's young strike force of Ade Akinbiyi and Trevor Benjamin.

Taylor said: 'I know Roberto's ability and I know from Tord Grip and Sven Goran Eriksson how fit he is. They told me he was still one of the fittest players at Lazio.

'It's not an ideal situation and I'd love to be taking a Roberto Mancini who had played every game this season. He speaks very little English, so we'll be using sign language.' At least Mancini has arrived with a positive perspective on English football. Vialli's views, in spite of his sacking by Chelsea, and those expressed yesterday by Gianfranco Zola make a refreshing change from the 'take the money and run' attitude of too many foreign players arriving in the Premiership.

Zola, typical of his generous nature, issued a plea on behalf of English referees and supporters. He said: 'I've been in England for four-and-a-half years. Newspapers and television devote lots of space to football, but I've never seen referees attacked or questioned the way they are in Italy.

'That doesn't mean they are perfect. They make mistakes, but they don't seek attention. People aren't interested in endless debates about them. In England, the only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch.

'It's a question of sporting culture. In Italy people have lost sight of the fascinating simplicity of this game. They get lost in endless diatribes and debates and forget the best thing about football, which is that it is, after all, a sport. Football must remain entertainment, if we continue to poison it, it will die.

'Referees make mistakes just like players and managers, but it's part of the game. Sometimes you strike the ball perfectly but then it hits a tuft of grass and doesn't go where it is supposed to. You're not going to criticise the grass are you? Nobody has won a title or a trophy because they have been favoured by referees.'