AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli says Manchester City must keep hold of manager Roberto Mancini.

Ex-City striker Balotelli believes that ­Mancini has already built the best squad in the Premier League despite ­Manchester United's 12-point lead at the top of the table.

"Mancini is the only coach who can win the title back off Manchester United," Balotelli told the Mirror.

"I can tell you now that every player at the club wants to play for him ­because he's a winner.

"Manchester City have the ­strongest squad and the best players in the ­Premier League and that ­includes Manchester ­United.

"United have very good strikers and can probably be seen as equal to City in that department but, in ­midfield and defence, there is no ­competition.

"Roberto has said that the gap does not reflect the difference between the teams and he is absolutely right.

"How can United win the league? Well these things just happen in ­football.

"Maybe the only difference is the experience the Manchester United players have in winning the title.

"But Manchester City are going to make big signings in the summer - the owners and Roberto will do this.

"Already there is talk of big players like Falcao and Neymar joining a big club in the summer, these are the sort of players City will be going for.

"There will be more than one big player coming I am sure - but never another Mario!"