Roberto Mancini has told an Italian newspaper that he was probably wrong in deciding to stay with Lazio.

Mancini’s spell in charge at Lazio has coincided with the club undergoing financial meltdown and a consequent fire sale of some of the club’s most prized assets. The likes of Alessandro Nesta and Hernan Crespo have been sold while there remains speculation that Jaap Stam and Dejan Stankovich will be the next to be offloaded as the club continues to cut costs.

“We had studied a project together but it never started,” Mancini said.

“I am still with Lazio only for the bond that I have with this club.

“People keep on talking but they know nothing,” he added.

“I hope that things will be explained soon because the players are working hard and they deserve some kind of honesty. I am very sad but I will not give up and the Inter match will prove this.

“We need a striker and a midfielder but we have no money to sign anyone so we’ll probably exchange players. For me it would be great news just to hear that all of my players have recovered.

“Stankovic is another situation that the club didn’t handle well: the player wanted to stay in September and was ready to extend his contract. Now he will join Juve or Inter and he will be an important player for the team that he’s going to join.”