Spurs legend Lineker puzzled by Man City deal for Mancini

Tottenham legend Gary Lineker finds Manchester City's appointment of Roberto Mancini puzzling.

In his column for the Mail on Sunday, Lineker wrote: "You might have understood Manchester City sacking Mark Hughes if a proven managerial giant like Guus Hiddink or Jose Mourinho had walked through the door at Eastlands. But to have gone through all that to bring in Roberto Mancini makes no sense.

"Mancini is a young manager trying to make his name, not the big box-office appointment to blow away City fans.

"Even his Serie A titles for Inter Milan were helped by rivals Juventus and AC Milan being torn apart by scandal at the time.

"Mancini was an excellent player and I'm sure he has the characteristics to be a successful manager. But to bring him in for Hughes was absurd. The bottom line is: are Manchester City more likely to finish in the top four because Mancini is now the manager? The answer is No."