LONDON: Manuel Pellegrini has not only signed a contract with Manchester City worth £3.4m-a-season for the next three years but has been formally entitled ‘manager.’

This is a clarification and confirmation that Pellegrini has been entrusted with a more ‘holistic’ role than Roberto Mancini.

The Italian had irritated the club’s Abu Dhabi owners by making no secret of his dissatisfaction over transfer strategy into which he had little input. By contrast, Pellegrini will be involved directly along with sports director Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Soriano Ferran.

The 59-year-old Chilean – nicknamed The Engineer for his professional education and qualifications – said all the right things on preparing for life at his 12th club.

Finally free of Malaga he was “delighted” with the opportunity to guide “the best squad in the Premier League” to domestic and Champions League titles next season.

New signings

Pellegrini had agreed personal terms with City last month, before the end of the Liga season. Already City have demonstrated their support for him by spending £30m to sign the Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk plus an initial £14.9m for Sevilla’s Jesus Navas.

Isco, who evolved under Pellegrini at Malaga and shares the same agent, is expected to follow after his starring role for finalists Spain at the European Under-21s Championship in Israel.

Other targets include Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski and Napoli’s widely-coveted Uruguayan Edinson Cavani.

Pellegrini said: “Everyone knows that when you arrive at a club like Manchester City you must win titles. City have invested a lot of money to improve the squad every year and to try to win titles every year.

“They were not successful last season but I am sure next year we can win maybe the Premier League and Champions League. We will try to win it all.

“I’m 100pc sure I won’t have any problems being in the Premier League. I’ve worked in four different countries and now England. I know a lot about the Premier League and I won’t have any problems in that sense. I will adapt.”

Pellegrini, currently on holiday, starts work officially next Monday [June 24].

He will bring three members of his  Malaga support staff: long-time assistant Ruben Cousillas, goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach Jose Cabello.

Mancini’s former assistant, Brian Kidd, 64, will remain on the coaching staff to provide essential ‘local knowledge.’ Pellegrini said: “He knows all about the club and the Premier League so it is very important he has agreed to stay with me. I’m really happy about that.”

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