Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is facing a dressing room backlash over a charity match in Italy next week. The Daily Star says City have agreed to field a side against a combined Sampdoria and Genoa XI to raise cash for victims of the flash floods that struck northern Italy in November.

Mancini was expected to take a side made-up of fringe stars and youth team players for the game on Wednesday. But he has stunned his squad and coaching staff by telling them he will pick a number of first teamers for the trip - just four days before the crunch league clash at Aston Villa.

It's understood Mancini's decision has caused uproar in the dressing-room.

A club source said: "The players are livid. One minute the manager is all doom-and-gloom about suspensions and injuries, but now we have to fly to Italy for a charity game.

"Some of the players are going to put their views across. But they fear their protests will fall on deaf ears because they feel Mancini does not communicate with them.

"One member of the backroom staff has already decided not to travel."