Parma coach Claudio Ranieri appears to have rejected Manchester City's interest in him, after he said his immediate future lay in Italy.
The 56-year-old took charge of the team in February and successfully guided them to safety, with a 12th-placed finish in Serie A. His impressive stint was understood to have convinced the City board he was the man to take over from former boss Stuart Pearce. However Ranieri, whose contract with Parma ends in June, admitted that he was keen to stay put.
"I would like to remain at Parma," said the former Chelsea boss. "It is a healthy club, led by people who love football. But my future has yet to be decided." Ranieri also denied he has had any contact with City, adding: "I don't know anything about it."
Ranieri has never ruled out a possible return to England, but Parma's willingness to keep him should be enough to see Ranieri extend his stay in Serie A. "We want Ranieri to stay," declared Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi. "He is tempted by the idea of going to England but we will try to keep him. He is fascinated by English football and this is no secret. But the warmth of the fans and the atmosphere at Parma will make him reflect on his future."
