Roberto Mancini admits he tried to sign Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano when he was in charge of Inter Milan.

The former Inter coach revealed: "We have spoken a few times. There was the chance to take him just before going to Samp, then we did not do anything.

"Today it is hard to find players who are not rebels. All have their own way of behaving and the coach must be happy sometimes to accept certain behavior or not to accept it and make them change."