MILAN – Roberto Mancini gave his take on possible signings and other transfer dealings when hosted on Radio Deejay's Deejay Football Club programme today.
Asked if he feels a more physical team is needed to win in Italy, he said: "We need to improve our improve our squad by adding players who bring a bit more physicality. If we can integrate them well, I think we'll see improvement - not that it's enough in itself to win because there's a team that's dominated the league for years and they start ahead of the pack.
Quizzed on possible Nerazzurri arrivals, the coach replied: "I don't know if Eder will join us. It sounds like a tough one to do. We'll see.
"Felipe Melo? He's got loads of experience and he could help us out in the middle of the park. In Italy people tend to remember him when he was going through a difficult spell but if he cost a lot it at the time it was because someone noted his ability. I don't know if he'll join Inter or not. It's tricky with just three days left to go."
On Perisic: "He should arrive today."
Mancini also spoke about the sale of Mateo Kovacic.
"It wasn't something we wanted to do but there were economic reasons behind it. Inter, like other clubs, have signed agreements with UEFA and we have to stay within certain parameters. Sadly the only decent offers we received were for Shaqiri and Kovacic and so we were forced to let them leave. Mateo is a very talented player. Like all young talents he needs time but you don't get the chance to join Real Madrid every day."
Could Juan Jesus leave? "He's staying with us."
On Brozovic: "He's recovered. He'll train today and he'll be in the squad. He's a central midfielder, not a trequartista, but we didn't have Hernanes against Atalanta so I had to play Marcelo there."
Asked then if he would make the same choice to return to Inter if he had chance to turn back time, Mancini said: "I knew from day one that it wasn't going to be easy. The management were always open with me. I explained that it would take time to build a team because I'm not a magician. Now we have some new players and we'll need a little time but I'm quite sure they'll help the players who were already here to improve."
