ARGENTINA veteran Juan Sebastian Veron claims he has rejected the chance to return to the Premier League, turning down an offer from Manchester City.
Veron, now at Estudiantes, spent three seasons in England but failed to live up to expectations – first at Manchester United and then at Chelsea.
Speculation was rife that the 34-year-old was set to join one of his former club’s bitter rivals.
New City boss Roberto Mancini was linked with a swoop for the midfielder, who he played alongside for Sampdoria and Lazio and went on to manage for two years at Inter Milan.
But Veron, who has always said he wanted to start and finish his career at the same club, insists he will see out his playing days at Estudiantes.
“I talked to Mancini, but it’s not possible now,” he said.
“It’s not about money.
“First comes my family and second it’s because I made a decision and I want to respect it. This is what I feel and this is the place in which I am comfortable.
“To accept it would be going against my convictions, against myself and against the people.
“I presented the offer to the club directors so they could analyse it. But on my part there wasn’t a lot to think about. My response was instant.”
City, meanwhile, have reported mammoth annual losses of £92.6m.
The eye-watering figure represents the second largest annual loss in English football history – Chelsea recorded £140m losses in 2005 – and emphasises the vast amounts of money invested by Sheikh Mansour since he bought the Eastlands outfit from Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2008.
As the figures run to May 31, 2009, they do not take into account last summer’s transfer dealings.
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