Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini in talks with Galatasaray

The Italian looks set for a return to management with the Turkish giants

Roberto Mancini (GETTY IMAGES)

Galatasaray have announced that they are in negotiations with former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini as they search for a replacement for the dismissed Fatih Terim.

Mancini was sacked as manager at the Etihad in May this year after City finished runners-up in both the Premier League and FA Cup, losing out to bitter rivals Manchester United by hefty 11 points and conceding a late Ben Watson goal in the 1-0 defeat at Wembley to relegated Wigan.

The Italian, who has had a high-profile career to date with Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter Milan, has been out of work since his Manchester departure, and he now appears to be closing in on the role in Turkey.

Should he be confirmed as their new boss, Mancini will link up with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue, while former Inter star Wesley Sneijder is also among the Galatasaray ranks, having joined the Italian club a year after Mancini’s departure.

Terim’s contract was terminated by the Champions League club after he rejected a two-year extension, bringing to an end his third managerial spell in charge of the club having been at the helm between 1996 and 2000 and also 2002 until 2004.

He also enjoyed an 11-year playing career with the Turkish side in which he made over 300 appearances in the Cimborn defence.

It has also been reported that Mancini will have a release clause inserted into his contract that he can leave should the Italian FA come calling, with the current Azzurri boss Cesare Prandelli due to leave his role after next summer’s World Cup.