By Andy Hampson, Press Association
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Manuel Pellegrini has revealed he almost joined Liverpool, as well as being approached by new club Manchester City six years ago.
City's hierarchy this summer identified Pellegrini as the man they believe is best equipped to help deliver on a stated ambition of winning five trophies in the next five seasons.
He led his new troops on their globetrotting pre-season tour, which first sees them stop over in South Africa to take part in the Nelson Mandela invitational tournament, where they will play two local sides.
Size matters: And Manuel Pellegrini led his troops for the first leg of their globetrotting pre-season tour
Touched down: City captain Vincent Kompany tweeted this picture of him, Joe Hart (left) and Edin Dzeko (back) on the bus in South Africa after Pellegrini and his side landed to begin their mammoth pre-season tour
On the plane: City stalwart Micah Richards and new summer signing Fernandinho (right) took their place
New man: Manuel Pellegrini walked with midfielder Jack Rodwell to fly to City's pre-season tour of South Africa
Bags packed: City and England's No 1 keeper Joe Hart waits to board the bus ahead of the tour
Home talents: Joleon Lescott (left) and James Milner are among the English contingent on City's tour
Young Gun: Devante Cole, son of former United and City striker Andrew, took his place on the trip
CITY'S PRE-SEASON TOUR
July 14 Supersport United (South Africa)
July 18 AmaZulu FC (South Africa)
July 24 South China (Hong Kong)
July 27 Tottenham/Sunderland (Hong Kong)
July 31 AC Milan (Germany)
August 1 Bayern Munich/Sao Paulo (Germany)
August 10 Arsenal (Finland)
Captain Vincent Kompany took to Twitter to post pictures as they arrived in Durban on Thursday morning.
From there, they will travel to Asia to take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy - also contested by Tottenham and Sunderland before heading to Germany, where they will first play AC Milan with Bayern Munich and Brazilian giants Sao Paulo also competing for the Audi Cup.
Their travels are rounded off by a trip to Finland to take on Premier League rivals Arsenal in a showpiece friendly, before Pellegrini takes charge of his first domestic game for the visit of Newcastle.
Yet Pellegrini might already have been in place had former owner Thaksin Shinawatra lured him from Villarreal in 2007 before turning to Sven-Goran Eriksson.
And that was not 59-year-old Pellegrini's only brush with the Barclays Premier League, with Liverpool also apparently interested three years ago.
In 2010, after Rafael Benitez left Anfield, Pellegrini was available following his dismissal by Real Madrid but Malaga proved his next destination.
The Chilean, speaking as he was formally unveiled as City's new boss, said: 'I had twice chances to arrive here before.
VIDEO Watch Manchester City touch down in Durban
Unveiling: But Manchester City's new manager Pellegrini could have been on these shores earlier
New men: City's new signing Fernandinho was also on hand to be welcomed to the club
'One was to Manchester City but with the other owners, not these owners.
'Liverpool, I was very near, after Real Madrid, to arrive at Liverpool.
'But for different things, it was not the moment. Now it is the right moment with the right club.'
Pellegrini, 59, left Malaga to succeed Roberto Mancini, who was sacked in May just a year after guiding the club to the Premier League title.
The Italian had also won the FA Cup the previous year and still managed to finish runner-up in both competitions last season - only for that not to be deemed good enough.
Pellegrini is not daunted by such lofty expectations, nor by the additional challenges of improving the team's style or helping develop a "holistic" approach to all footballing matters.
Finally arrived: Pellegrini was approached to join City by former owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who opted for Sven-Goran Eriksson (below) instead in 2007
He said: 'I am not concerned about that.
'I am here, it is not only to win trophies - the Premier League, the FA Cup or the Champions League.
'I am here to work with young players and the professional team.
'Winning trophies is important but it is not just about that.'
City have spent close to ?45million this summer on two new players in Fernandinho and Jesus Navas and the spending is set to continue with several other players linked.
Yet Pellegrini is well aware the club need to curtail their spending and sustain their strength through their own youth system in the future.
He said: 'As a coach, of course we always want immediate success.
'We are trying to have a strong squad in all positions. If that will bring us trophies, perfect - we have more chances to win that way.
Close: Pellegrini, after leaving Real Madrid, was approached by Liverpool, who turned to Kenny Dalglish
'But in the same way we are working with young players and we will continue to. It is impossible every year to buy three, four, five players.
'We need a mix with young players. We need to work exactly the same with the under-21s and the first team.
'A lot of things I think will be improved. From what Roberto and all the other coaches of Manchester City have done over the years, we will continue.'
Pellegrini and the majority of his squad have now flown to South Africa for the first leg of their summer tour.
New haunt: Pellegrini (centre) said he will continue the work of former boss Roberto Mancini (below)
They compete in the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong later this month before playing a tournament in Munich and then facing Arsenal in a friendly in Helsinki.
Their recruitment drive will continue amid the schedule - with a striker a top priority after the recent sale of Carlos Tevez - but Pellegrini is prepared to be patient.
He said: 'I am not sure if they can arrive when we are in South Africa and Hong Kong.
'It is important to arrive the players we need, we are not in a hurry. We have different choices and we hope we can get the players we want.'
City have made clear their transfer policy is now being driven by director of football Txiki Begiristain but Pellegrini does have input and he was consulted over the signings of Navas and Fernandinho.
Sidelines: Pellegrini guided former club Malaga to the Champions League quarter-finals last season
He said: 'I signed here 15, 20 days ago - one month.
'When I finished the Spanish league with Malaga, when I decided not to stay there and come here, I started talking with Txiki (about) the different things."
Pellegrini has shown his coaching credentials by guiding Villarreal and Malaga to the latter stages of the Champions League but his reputed man-management skills were also attractive.
It was felt there was discord in the dressing room under Mancini.
Pellegrini said: 'I don't want to talk about what happened in the past.
'You always have problems sometimes with some players - I had it in the past - but I think we can have very good relations.'
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