Jack is Mancini's lad with £12m move to Man City... but Rodwell told to 'improve'

Jack Rodwell completed his move from Everton to Manchester City on Sunday night but the £12million transfer came with a warning from Roberto Mancini that he must improve.
The City manager does not expect 21-year-old Rodwell to fulfil his potential and make an impact this season.
‘Jack Rodwell is a young player who needs to improve to play at this level,’ said Mancini. ‘But he’s young and he’s a good player for our future.

Welcome to Manchester, Jack: Rodwell has completed his £12m switch to the Premier League champions

‘It’s the first time he will be in a club that plays to win and it will be different for him, but I’m sure that, in a couple of years, he will be a top, strong midfielder.’
Rodwell had a medical on Sunday as City were fighting back from 1-0 down to beat 10-man Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Community Shield at Villa Park, before later putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.
The initial fee for the England midfielder is believed to be £12m, rising to £15m on appearances.
Meanwhile, Everton are talking to City about taking winger Adam Johnson on loan for a season. Those talks are unconnected to Rodwell’s switch but if Johnson does leave it will free up room for Mancini to sign winger Scott Sinclair from Swansea.

Jack's the lad: Rodwell leaves the Bridgewater Hospital in Moss Side on Sunday after a three-hour medical

 

Branislav Ivanovic was sent off in the first half at Villa Park for a high tackle on Aleksandar Kolarov and will be banned for the first three games of the campaign — against Wigan, Reading and Newcastle. His suspension adds urgency to Chelsea’s efforts to capture Spanish right back Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille.

Roberto Di Matteo queried the red card, but his team were fortunate not to attract more disciplinary trouble.

Top talent: Rodwell impressed Mancini when he played against City

 

Chelsea had five others booked and two of them — Frank Lampard and Ramires — might have been sent off late in the game had referee Kevin Friend not been in such a lenient mood.

‘It was a competitive game, both sides were determined to win and it made a good game,’ said Di Matteo. ‘The sending-off probably changed the game. It was a sliding player. He got him and got the ball as well. ‘Sometimes the red card is given, sometimes not, but there was no intention from our player to do any harm to the opposition.’

Come and join me: Roberto Mancini is a big fan of Rodwell

Mancini predicts that Carlos Tevez could be a key figure at the Etihad Stadium again this season.
‘Last season, we had Carlos for the last 10 games but he was not 100 per cent,’ said the City boss. ‘This is the first time in four or five years that he’s had a  pre-season and that’s important.’