Roberto Mancini's press conference before Turkey-Italy had an awkward moment. It all started with a local journalist who decided to go off topic of questions about the Nations League match to persistently ask Mancini about Manchester City, a club that has allegedly been found guilty of a series of significant financial violations in the past. The translator seemed to be in great difficulty, to the point of asking the Blues coach whether he should translate the question or not.
There were immediate moments of awkwardness in the conference room at the end of the long question that was asked to Mancini in Turkish. The national team coach probably understood something from his past experience in managing Galatasaray and, when someone pointed out “A very complicated question…”, he replied: “But are we sure there is only one?”. The translator at that point turned to Mancini: “Should I translate it or not?”, with the blue coach looking a little confused (“I don’t know…”).
“What do you think about the fact that Manchester City has been found guilty?” These were the words that caused a bitter smile from Mancini, who immediately clarified: “I don’t believe that he has been found guilty at all, on the contrary”. An underlining to reiterate that the guilty verdict for 114 of the 115 Premier League charges of financial irregularities between 2009 and 2018 is not yet official. Seemingly calm, Mancini did not back down even when the translator tried again to avoid translating the Turkish journalist’s question into Italian: “There is the rest… do you continue or not comment?” Then he plucked up the courage: “Is your double contract part of this issue?”. The Italian coach was very determined: "It's not a problem that concerns me. Moreover, it's not something new, because, I believe, it's been coming up from time to time for 4-5 years. Manchester City is not guilty and the fact that he had a double contract is absolutely not my problem, but it's their problem, if it really is."
The accusation against the technician Mancini in the context of the Manchester City case, where he was coach from 2009 to 2013, was that he had benefited from a double contract to circumvent the rules. An official one with the club of just under 2 million euros per season and a "hidden" one with Al Jazira, another club under the same ownership as the Citizens, of around 2 million euros, officially for 4 days of consultancy per year. The money was allegedly passed through an Italian company linked to him.
But ultimately, what is the real Italian translation of the Turkish journalist's question? These were his words: "There is talk that Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League due to numerous financial violations. Do you believe that the club is innocent? The club's directors are accused of not being able to justify the source of the payments they made to you during your time as coach. Have you ever received payments from a club based in Abu Dhabi? Have you been contacted by investigators? Thank you." The translator was much gentler in posing the question, making it a little easier.
