Mancini determined to make fresh start at Milan

ROME - New AC Milan loan signing Mancini said he hopes the move will help resurrect his career after making the short trip from neighbours Inter Milan.

By Afp

Published: Tue 2 Feb 2010, 10:32 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:00 AM

The Brazilian was a highly-sought addition to coach Jose Mourinho’s attacking options when he arrived from AS Roma 18 months ago but after a poor start to life in the blue and black half of Milan, he suffered from Mourinho abandoning his favoured 4-3-3 formation.

The former Chelsea boss had bought wingers Mancini and Ricardo Quaresma to play either side of Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he took over at Inter but neither signing impressed and Mourinho soon switched to a 4-4-2.

That left both wingers - neither known for his work rate nor his propensity to track back - largely out in the cold and Mancini has featured in just seven matches this season, totalling less than four hours of playing time.

And he blames Mourinho for that.

“I’ve wasted the last six months. I was ready to leave in the summer but then Mourinho called me and said he had faith in me,” he said.

“I would like to wipe out the last year. Now I’m turning over a new leaf and starting a new adventure.

“I’m looking for redemption, to win, to find the serenity that I lost a year ago.

“I will do what’s possible and what’s impossible to return to the top.”

The 29-year-old also suggested that Milan’s style of play would be more suited to him than Inter’s was.

“Milan play more football, better football. Inter are a strong team but Milan are at the same level, just with different characteristics,” he added.

It will take something special from Mancini to prove that to be the case however.

Milan and Inter have already played twice in Serie A this season, with Inter winning 4-0 the first time and then triumphing 2-0 just over a week ago despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for more than an hour and finishing the game with nine men.

They also sit second in the league but eight points behind champions Inter.