Manuel Pellegrini, Malaga to part ways

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that he'll be leaving Malaga at the end of the season, presumably to occupy the spot vacated by Manchester City's sacking of Roberto Mancini. The Chilean has been at La Rosaleda for the better part of three years following his lone season at Real Madrid, and they've been very strange ones -- his club has achieved remarkable things domestically and in the Champions League, but they sacrificed any pretence of financial stability to get there and, having been sanctioned by UEFA in the process, don't have much hope of being relevant again over the next few years.

Pellegrini is claiming that he's leaving the club for 'sporting reasons,' which is code for 'I can't believe the mess you've left this club in you stupid jerkfaces.' Although he denies having any contact with Manchester City so far, it's been fairly obvious for some time that that'll be his next stop. The 59-year-old, a formidable tactician and purveyor of some rather pretty football, has been an unqualified success wherever he's been, and should he indeed arrive at the Etihad, it'll set up a nice clash between himself, Manchester United David Moyes and putative Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.