Sacked Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini had reportedly taken out a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper in Manchester to thank his fans and say goodbye to them.
The Italian, who was dropped a day after City lost to Wigan Athletic in a dramatic FA Cup final, has kept quiet about his sacking but bought a full-page ad in the Manchester Evening News to deliver a farewell message to supporters, Sky News reports.
According to the report, the ad had a headline that read 'Three unforgettable years', underneath which, a picture of Mancini waving and the three major trophies he won during his time at the club accompanied the line: 'You will always be in my heart. Ciao.'
Mancini joined City in 2009 after successful managerial stints in Italy and had guided the club to the FA Cup in 2010/11, the Premier League title in 2011/12 and the FA Community Shield last summer, although the club missed out on the Premier League, Champions League trophies and the FA Cup this season.
Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has been tipped as a possible replacement for Mancini, until which assistant manager Brian Kidd has been placed in temporary charge of the team.
City will play against Norwich City on the final day of the 2012/13 campaign before a post-season tour of the US, the report added.