Roberto Mancini has laughed off the notion that he has made an audacious attempt to recruit Argentina and former Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron to his City squad.

The Blues manager revealed how an innocent phone call to his former team-mate, once a costly import for Manchester United, was at the root of the story that has intrigued the game.

Mancini has demonstrated by signing 33-year-old France and former Arsenal hero Patrick Vieira that he does not believe age to be a barrier when considering world-class players.

But the new boss is adamant that Veron, now 34 and back in Argentina as skipper of his first club Estudiantes, was never in his sights as he hastily compiled a transfer window wish-list.     

Roberto explained: "Veron is my friend. I played with him at Sampdoria, and at Lazio, and when I was the manager at Inter he played for me.

"I called him just to say hello and as we talked I joked with Seba, 'If you want, you can come to play for City', but I was only joking and he knew that. He plays for Estudiantes and is very happy there. It was never a possibility for us."

Meanwhile, Mancini has allowed Felipe Caicedo to join Spanish club Malaga on loan for the rest of the season after Sporting Lisbon decided not to pursue a permanent deal for the 21-year-old Ecuador striker, who has been in Portugal since the summer.