Mancini not for me - Eriksson - Sport in brief

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Eriksson was quoted in the Italian media as being desperate to sign the 27-year-old but the Swede insists he has never discussed bringing the Brazilian to the City of Manchester Stadium.

"I don't know where that has come from, it must have come from Roma. I have never spoken about that player with anyone," Eriksson said on City's official website, www.mcfc.co.uk.

However, the Blues boss has confirmed his desire to make Iraq international Nashat Akram one of his January signings.

The 23-year-old, who was one of the stars of the side which won the 2007 Asian Cup and reached the Olympic semi-finals in 2004, has been training with the Blues squad at Carrington this week.

Eriksson has been impressed so far and is hopeful a deal can be struck with the Al-Ain club in the United Arab Emirates.

"I think he will come," Eriksson said. "We need to fix the work permits but I don't think that will be a problem.

"He's a very good football player, he will need to get used to the style of English football but he's a very elegant player and in the Asian Cup he was one of the very best in the tournament.

"He reminds me a bit of Michael Johnson in that he can do a little bit of everything in both attack and defence.

"I think he is one for the future. I'm not sure if he's ready to play this season but I've seen him train and he's good. He's a technically correct player."