The Chilean media love talking up their countryman, naturally.
Usually when it comes to football that’s Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, but with one somewhat out of form and the other out for the rest of the season after an operation, eyes have turned to Manuel Pellegrini.
Chilean newspaper La Cuarta report that with Arsene Wenger announcing his Arsenal exit, Pellegrini has been ‘probed’ by the Premier League club.
It’s certainly a long shot, but one which La Cuarta have managed to convince themselves of, and they list some other possibilities but make it clear those are ‘in addition’ to Pellegrini.
Currently at Hebei Fortune, Pellegrini can leave if a club pays his $2m buyout clause in the summer.
A source close to the manager is quoted as saying: “It is not new, but there have been some surveys of Arsenal to know the situation of Manuel Pellegrini, because he remains in the orbit of the leaders. Of course, this time the subject is different, since there is certainty that Wenger will not continue at the London club. Manuel is a coach who fulfils his contracts, but Arsenal is a different challenge.”
Who knows, it may be true.
As the Chilean media have pointed out repeatedly recently, Pellegrini actually achieved more at the Etihad, getting Manchester City to the semi-finals of the Champions League, than Pep Guardiola has.
