Roberto Mancini muffles his sense of fashion

IT has taken some weeks but finally Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has adapted to the British sense of style.

Gone are the expensive labels from Milan's top fashion houses and in have come acrylic hand-me-downs as the dapper 45-year-old swaps Lombardy for Lancashire.

It turns out Mancini's now-famous lucky blue and white scarf is just one of thousands given away free by City three seasons ago before their derby with Manchester United.

The Italian clocked the garment wrapped around the neck of Eastlands communications chief Vicky Kloss shortly before his first match in charge against Stoke. Upon voicing his admiration for the muffler, Kloss courteously placed it around Mancini's shoulders, and there it has lain ever since.

A City 'insider' said: "The manager is a bit of a fashion icon so everyone thinks the scarf would be a designer brand made from cashmere but that could hardly be further from the truth.

"Now every City fan wants one just like it."

And he's right. What began as a freebie is now flying out of the City club shop quicker than they can replenish stocks. Who said inflation was low at the moment?