Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has suggested "anything can happen" regarding Andrea Pirlo making a potential short-term loan move from New York City FC in the MLS close season.
Pirlo, 36, left Juventus this summer for NYCFC after a long career in Serie A with Inter, AC Milan and Juventus among others.
Recent rumours have linked the midfielder with an Inter return after a three-year spell at the club early in his career, and former club president Massimo Moratti believes it would be a "very good idea" for the Nerazzurri to move for the Italy international.
Mancini has responded to the links ahead of Inter's trip to Torino on Sunday, describing Pirlo as a "champion" who would interest a number of Serie A sides.
"I've not spoken to him," the club's official website reports Mancini as saying. "But anything can happen in football. MLS is over for the season so maybe he wants to rest, but I'm sure clubs will be interested if he fancies a return to Italy because he's a fantastic player.
"He's a champion -- not your average player. He has amazing technique and reads the game quicker than most other players.
"In the future we may look at players with similar characteristics because we have players that are very physically strong and they can give us more when the pitches cut up a bit."
Inter head to Torino level on points with league leaders Fiorentina, although Mancini is wary of il Toro -- currently in 11th -- despite Giampiero Ventura's side being winless in five league games.
"It's never easy against Torino, they're a quality side and Ventura is a great coach," he said. "We'll need to fight for every ball, be aggressive and ensure we don't give them too much space because they have some very good players."
Mancini has changed his starting XI numerous times this season, and says that his selection policy is down to having a strong squad to call upon.
"Rotation shows we have faith in all the players," he continued. "The only player who hasn't played is Martin Montoya -- he's a fantastic professional and a good player, so I hope he can get a chance.
"All of the others have played -- we've made lots of changes because we had three matches in one week, including two on the road."
The former Manchester City coach hinted that Mauro Icardi -- recently linked with Real Madrid -- could start at Torino after being benched against Roma, saying: "Mauro didn't need to prove anything to me during the week, it was a tactical decision to leave him on the bench, just like it was in Bologna with [Stevan] Jovetic.
"It happens in all teams and is pretty normal -- the coach has to make decisions and unfortunately sometimes you have to leave big players on the bench."
On the subject of being potential title favourites, Mancini added: "I don't think there is one team significantly better than all the rest.
"Some sides have less of a problem in gelling the players because their squads have been together for longer and they're more sure of things, like Roma and Napoli. We have fewer uncertainties than a few weeks ago, but we're still lacking something."
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