Roberto Mancini has called on his old friend Attilio Lombardo to join the Manchester City coaching staff.
Former Italy winger Lombardo, a former player manager of Crystal Palace, jumped at a return to England after a nomadic coaching career since quitting Sampdoria in 2006.
'I'm proud to work alongside Mancini,' said the 44-year-old. 'I played for a year-and-a-half at Crystal Palace so I know some of the football.
'I'll try to recover what little English I learned. For me this is a great opportunity for professional growth - working with a coach who has won so much.
'We always stayed in touch then he called me recently, to say, "Attilio, do you want to come here?" I immediately said yes.
'He needed one more person to give him a hand, I'll help him with some work on the pitch and then I'll go to see a few games of City's opponents, especially those in the Europa League.'
Lombardo played at Sampdoria in the 1990s alongside Mancini and another Italian City coach Fausto Salsano.
Lombardo has coached in Switzerland and with semi-professional Italian teams since leading Palace and later taking a youth coaching role with Sampdoria.
