Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini rules out return for Andrea Pirlo

Inter Milan head coach Roberto Mancini has insisted that Andrea Pirlo will not be joining the club on loan from New York City FC.

The 36-year-old has been linked with a short-term switch to the Nerazzurri, whom he played for from 1998 to 2001, as well as Mancini's old club Manchester City.

"Pirlo? I don't even have his phone number. It's you lot that have been on about him for weeks," BBC Sport quotes Mancini as saying.

"He's a fantastic player who has won everything in Europe and now he's decided to try a new experience in another league."

Pirlo has played 13 times for New York City since joining them from Juventus in August.