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City's attempts to secure a top-four spot this term were hampered by the delays in players returning from the World Cup and the protracted attempts to capture James Milner from Aston Villa. Having overcome that handicap to secure a Champions League place and end City's 35-year trophy drought, Mancini is already turning his sights to next term. And, by the time his players re-assemble for pre-season training at the beginning of July, he wants all the business done. "I want to have all the players when we start the season, not afterwards," he said. "Pre-season is really important. We had some problems this year because we didn't do a pre-season. All the players arrived after the World Cup, five days before the start of the Premier League. "To have all the players back when we start pre-season on July 5 is important for us." Chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has suggested it will only take a couple of reinforcements to turn City into title contenders. That number will not include former world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo judging by Mancini's reaction to stories suggesting he was about to shatter the £80million Real Madrid paid for the Portugal superstar two years ago. "We have signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £200million," joked the Italian. "I said after the FA Cup final, I would like to sign Ronaldo, Messi, Fabregas and Iniesta. I don't think it is possible. "I don't know why this has come out. I don't know anything about it. "Cristiano Ronaldo is a fantastic player but I don't think he will leave Real Madrid." Some kind of budget will be required, although Mancini was coy about exactly how much is going to be needed. "I don't know how much money we will have to spend," he said. "What is a lot? You could say £10million, or £100million, £200million. "It depends on the players we need and how much money the other club wants for its players. "At this moment it is difficult to say." It is equally problematic trying to predict where Carlos Tevez's future lies. Mancini caught most observers on the hop immediately after Tuesday's Premier League win over Stoke when he claimed Tevez had told him he wanted to remain with the Eastlands outfit. Within 24 hours, the picture had become more clouded, with Tevez's representatives privately claiming the striker had said nothing of the sort. Even senior figures within the club wonder whether Tevez's trusted advisor Kia Joorabchian is trying to find an alternative suitor, who would be willing to pay the vast transfer fee and wages the South American would command. However, as he looked ahead to Sunday's trip to Bolton, Mancini was adamant Tevez is not about to make his final appearance for the club. "I don't think it will be Carlos' last game," said Mancini. "On Tuesday, I told you all my opinion and I am sure about this. But I can't continue to have a press conference to answer this question. "I have spoken with Carlos. I have spoken with him many times in the last weeks and I don't need to speak with him again." And Mancini is not entirely convinced about quotes emerging from Argentina, attributed to Tevez, that the former West Ham star views his future as being elsewhere. "I don't know if he has said these things," he said. "Sometimes I have spoken to journalists in Italy and when the comments come back here, it is something completely different. "I understand it can happen because of the translation. "We have many important players; Carlos, Yaya Toure, David Silva, James Milner, Nigel de Jong. We want them all to stay here."
