Watched the game on Abu Dhabi sports and Mancini gave an interview right after.
You could see the grave disappointment in his face when asked about Mario and why he was leaving. It is quite obvious that Mancini does not want to let him go, he believes he will come through and that City need him and are indeed making a mistake. The emotion was plain to see.
He qualified his views by saying that Mario was offered a route back to Italy which he really wanted and to again play for a big Italian club was important to Mario. He said it would help Mario and that he hoped that he would work hard and fulfill his potential.
Personally I am very sad to see him go as he offered something very different and unique. He was very frustrating and immature however I trust Mancini completely and believed that Mario would become the world class player Mancini and Jose outlined.
No player is bigger than the club, however I feel we should have waited until we could line up a replacement or plainly backed Mancini regardless. All of this falls by the way side if Mario actually insisted on going, something we will never actually know I guess.
