Backup Plan: Man City Manager Roberto Mancini Admits Juventus Interest

Roberto Mancini has announced his interest to one day go back to Italy and manage in Serie A.

The current Manchester City manager said: "How near I am to return to Italy I don't know, football is strange. But I will return sooner than later."

Mancini is currently in the middle of a fight for fourth place in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Aston Villa.

Mancini is currently two points behind the London side, while sitting above Liverpool two points clear, with a game in hand.

Many claim that if the Italian fails to secure the final Champions League spot this season, that his faith will be the same as that of Mark Hughes, the man he replaced in December.

Mancini was a boyhood fan of The Old Lady and said that "Juve is always Juve."

Is the former Inter Milan manager trying to lay a foundation for the future, just in case his reign in Manchester is cut short?

Mark Hughes was sacked as Manchester City manager 21 games into the season.

He lost his job despite losing just two games, a narrow defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United and an empathic three-nil loss to Tottenham.

Hughes also guided The Citizens to the semifinals of the Carling Cup.

Since replacing Hughes, Roberto Mancini has picked up one more league win compared to that of Hughes this season.

Hughes managed just seven Premier League victories while Mancini has led Man City to eight.

However, Man City have seen themselves knocked out of both domestic cups under the guidance of Mancini.

Manchester United knocked City out in the semifinals of the Carling Cup 4-3, despite City going into the second-leg with a goal advantage.

City were taking out of the FA Cup by Stoke City 3-1 after extra time of their replay. The first leg at the City of Manchester Stadium ended in a one all draw.

Mancini has at least seven games left as manager of Man City.

Tough games against Arsenal, Manchester United, Birmingham City, and Tottenham all remain for City, and Roberto will need to keep his team fighting for fourth if he is to keep the white and sky blue scarf wrapped around his neck next season.

Juventus are currently in the middle of their own fight. Juventus are three points behind fourth placed Palermo who occupy the final Champions League spot in Serie A.

Juventus are also level on points with Napoli and Sampdoria who are fighting with Juventus for the last Champions League spot, or the consolation prize of a spot in the Europa League.

The Juventus seat will become vacant in the summer and Mancini may have just tipped his hat in the direction of Juventus, just in case his seat becomes untenable in Manchester.