Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini isn't ready to freeze out Roque Santa Cruz.

Mancini has sympathy for Santa Cruz, who has been eyeing a permanent move to either Real Betis, where he spent last season on loan, or a club in northern England, which would mean he does not have to uproot his kids from school in Bowdon, says the Manchester Evening News.

Betis could not afford to pay City's asking price, and there have been no significant bids for the Paraguay striker. Santa Cruz has been included in pre-season plans, scoring at Oldham last week and playing as a substitute in the friendly at Wolfsburg on Saturday.