Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini last night flew
home from his club's pre-season tour of America to be at the
bedside of his gravely ill father in Italy.
Mancini was preparing to take training in Baltimore on Friday
afternoon ahead of Saturday's final friendly game against Inter
Milan when he heard his father Aldo had been rushed in to intensive
care.
The exact nature of Aldo's condition is not known but the
74-year-old is clearly unwell enough for his son to head straight
to the family home in Ancona. Coaches Brian Kidd and David Platt
will now take charge of tonight's game against the European
champions before the whole squad return to England in the early
hours.
It is not yet known whether Mancini will return to City in time
for the club's game in Dortmund next week.
Meanwhile, Adam Johnson has admitted he was starstruck when he
was first called up to Fabio Capello' s England squad but now
claims he is ready to be part of a new dawn for his country.
The City winger (right), who says he wants to play like Holland
star Arjen Robben, revealed that he was devastated not to go to
South Africa but that he is now only looking forward.
Johnson said: 'On the way to joining up with the England squad
for the first time it was a nerve-wracking, with all the
world-class players there.
'After a couple of days, I settled in well and I knew a few of
the lads from City, so it was nice to have them show me the ropes.
Making my debut was the highlight of my career so far. I missed out
on the World Cup. I was devastated but that has gone now so maybe
it is a fresh start for everybody.'