By FRANCO PANIZO
Roberto Mancini helped give Manchester City the ultimate reward in English soccer this past season by helping them lift the Premier League title.
Now, they are rewarding him.
Mancini signed a five-year deal worth an estimated $38.7 million with the wealthy club on Monday, meaning the Italian's contract runs through the 2016-2017 season. Negotiations between Mancini and Manchester City had been going on since the middle of May, but a deal was finally agreed upon in the midst of him being linked with the vacant Russia national team post.
Mancini's old deal ran through the end of this upcoming season. He joined the team in 2009.
Here are more stories from Monday:
GRELLA AGREES TO DEAL WITH SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Mike Grella is not leaving England just yet. The 25-year-old American forward signed a two-year deal with League One club Scunthorpe United on Monday, and the team will be the sixth one he plays for since turning professional in 2009. Grella most recently played for League One side Bury
JI-SUNG LEAVES MANCHESTER UNITED TO SIGN WITH QPR
Manchester United fans are saying goodbye to midfielder Park Ji-Sung, who joined Queens Park Rangers on a two-yea deal on Monday. Park joins a cast of players at QPR that includes former Manchester United defender and ex-teammate Fabio. The South Korean midfielder spent the past seven seasons at Old Trafford, where he won four league titles and the Champions League once.
TONI ON BRINK OF SIGNING WITH MALAGA
Italian striker Luca Toni may soon be playing soccer in Europe again, and it looks like Spanish side Malaga are the favorites to acquire his services. The 35-year-old Toni is coming off a season with United Arab Emirates outfit Al Nasr but it appears he is going to be jumping ship to Malaga once his contract is terminated, as is expected.
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What do you think of Mancini's new deal? Should Grella have come to MLS instead of playing for Scunthorpe United? How do you envision Park Ji-Sung doing with QPR?
Share your thoughts below.