Edin Dzeko has hinted at a move to AC Milan after declaring his ambition to play in Serie A - but Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said he believes it is "pretty unlikely" that the striker will leave the Etihad.
Dzeko is unsettled at City and complained last week that he had started too few games in the second half of the club's title-winning season.
Mancini said: "He is right to say it's no fun being on the bench - but when you join a big club then competition is normal."
Speaking after his return to his former club Wolfsburg for Saturday's pre-season win, Dzeko suggested he could move on before the August transfer window closes, with Milan - who sold Zlatan Ibrahaimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain - a possible destination.
Dzeko said: "I always follow the Italian league and one day I'd like to play in it. I also know that Milan has sold two of its best players.
"For now I am a City player, but to be sure I will stay here I will have to wait until the end of the month. I'll see what happens, and if someone else comes."
Dzeko, who cost City £27 million, scored 19 goals last season including the injury-time equaliser against QPR on the final day of the campaign.
But he spent the final few weeks of the season on the bench as Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez were paired in attack.