Tongues are wagging with manager Roberto Mancini absent from Manchester City's preseason tour of Austria. Mancini was nowhere to be seen as Manchester City arrived in Austria on Sunday night, adding to fears the Italian may be set to quit the club for Russia.

City jetted in to the Alpine village of Seefeld for their high-altitude camp on Sunday night but boss Mancini skipped the welcoming ceremony.

The title-winning boss had travelled with the squad but was said to have escaped attention by using a back entrance to their hotel, according to the Mirror.

Mancini has been offered £35million to manage World Cup hosts Russia as contract talks with City drag into another week.

Sources in Russia claimed on Saturday night that Mancini had agreed to take over the national team in a six-year deal that would see him in charge when they host the World Cup in 2018.