Manchester United boss says Van Persie was never going to join Manchester City

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has taunted Manchester City by claiming Robin van Persie was never going to move to the Etihad Stadium.

As well as missing out on the Dutchman, Mancini failed to land all his prime transfer targets last summer, but with new administration at the club he is confident of doing better this time around. City did strike one important blow last week when Yaya Toure signed a new four-year contract and spoke of his confidence in the club's future. Mancini said: "This is important for the club, it is important that they sign new contracts. "We know that we should buy important players for next year if we want to improve. "In football you can buy good players and afterwards you don't win - this is football, it is incredible. "But I am sure we can do well this year, we can do a good job in the market." Mancini is likely to want to strengthen his squad in a number of areas but is giving little away as to his intentions now. He said: "I don't know, it is difficult to say this. You may want one player, but maybe two or three teams want the same player and after you can take this or take another player. It is difficult." The title race may be all but over, but City still want to make a point tonight to prove the gap between them and United is not as large as the table suggests. Mancini said: "I think we know we can beat them because they are not better than us. "This is sure, 100 per cent - although they deserve to win this title."