MX23RW : Friday, November 8 07:04:14| >> :120:56122:56122:

Rudi Garcia warns clubs over Mehdi Benatia pursuit

Roma manager Rudi Garcia insists that reported Premier League target Mehdi Benatia is happy at the Serie A giants and will not be leaving the club this summer.

Roma manager Rudi Garcia has vowed to fend off Premier League interest in Mehdi Benatia and keep the sought-after centre-back at the club this summer.

Manchester City have long been keen on the 27-year-old, while Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be keeping an eye on the Moroccan international.

However, Garcia has insisted that Benatia is happy with the Serie A outfit, who play Liverpool in a pre-season friendly in Boston on Wednesday, and will still be a Roma player throughout the upcoming campaign.

He told reporters: "He's under contract with us and for me he will be a Roma player this season.

"Mehdi is happy, motivated. He will play against Liverpool and there aren't any problems."

Benatia, who scored five goals in 33 appearances for Roma last term after joining from Udinese, is apparently City's back-up defensive target should they fail to land Eliaquim Mangala from Porto.

ID:166364: cacheID:166364:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1887:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Matija Nastasic of Manchester City during the Nelson Mandela Football Invitational match between SuperSport United and Manchester City from Loftus Versfeld on July 14, 2013
Read Next:
Nastasic wanted by Roma?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Lazio1171324141022
6Juventus115601971221
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Empoli1135389-114
12Roma113441214-213
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
14Como122461323-1010
15Genoa12246922-1310
16CagliariCagliari11236919-109
17Parma111641417-39
18Monza111551014-48
19VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
20Lecce11227420-168


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!