The 46-year-old coach has been notified of the Turin giants’ intent as they are expected to dismiss Luigi Del Neri at the end of a disappointing campaign.
With Mancini under pressure to seal both Champions League qualification and the FA Cup next month to satisfy the big-spending Premier League club’s ambitious owners, a return to Serie A may be in the offing.
Juve had originally planned to approach Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri but with the southern side preparing to undertake their first ever Champions League campaign, his head is unlikely to be turned.
A Juventus source told Goal.com: “Mancini is a possibility and he is one of the names that is appealing. Juventus are interested in him as Walter Mazzarri looks set to remain at Napoli. So Mancini has emerged as an alternative.
“Juventus have started surveying the ground for coaches over the last few weeks and they would have spoken to Mancini to see if there is a chance to get him.
“They are making contact with coaches to get an idea of how they will move forward. Mancini appears certain to leave City.”
The Italian press have confirmed that a meeting took place in London last week between Juventus sporting director Fabio Paraciti, administrative director Pavel Nedved and one of Mancini’s agents, Giorgio De Giorgis.
Nedved is a former Lazio team-mate of Mancini and holds sway in decision-making at Juve since his appointment earlier this season.
De Giorgis had earlier met with Juve representatives in Milan; Giuseppe Marotta, Juve’s general director, acknowledged that meeting but denied that Mancini’s potential appointment was discussed.
Goal.com revealed on Saturday that Juventus had expressed an interest in signing City right-back Micah Richards in a €17m deal.
Juventus are currently seventh in Serie A and will not be playing Champions League football next season. Its current coach Del Neri is expected to see his tenure end prematurely, with 12 months still remaining on his contract. His expected departure would give Juve an opportunity to appoint Mancini, whom they tried to lure almost two years ago.
The source added: “There has been talk about Luigi Del Neri staying on, but he has not convinced the club and the fans, and so it’s likely he will leave. Mancini though remains possible as there were contacts with him before he went to Manchester City.”
Mancini is on course to steer City to the Champions League following its 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers on Monday night but faces a challenge from Tottenham, whilst he is also prepping his squad for an FA Cup final appearance against Stoke City.
However it is the legacy he built in Italy, winning three back-to-back titles and two Coppa Italia trophies with Inter, which has convinced the fallen Turin club to attempt to appoint him.
The source continued, “It seems like he will leave City at the end of the season and Juve are looking. He appeals to Juventus as he is a top level Italian coach who has enjoyed success in Italy, and he would return to Serie A.”
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