Malaga dismisses Pellegrini 'leaving for Man City' rumours

Spanish side Malaga has dismissed reports that they have allowed their coach Manuel Pellegrini to leave the club at the end of the season and join English club Manchester City.

Reports have named the former Villarreal and Real Madrid coach as one of the favourites to replace the sacked Roberto Mancini at City, Sport24 reports.

According to the report, it has also been widely speculated that Malaga would let Pellegrini go without demanding the four million-euro compensation detailed in a clause to cover the remaining two years of his contract at the club.

However, a Malaga spokesman said that the club has not given any authorization to Pellegrini to leave the club, adding that the season is not yet finished and they are still fighting to qualify for the Europa League.

The report further said that Malaga is currently in the sixth place in La Liga with two games to play ands need to finish in the top seven to qualify for the Europa League, although they are currently fighting to overturn a ban from continental competition handed down by UEFA.

Malaga were handed the ban in December as a punishment for failing to pay salaries, an infringement of UEFA's strict new financial fair play rules, the report added.