Manchester City hero Peter Barnes has slaughtered three of the team's multi-millionaire stars.

The City legend watches his old club from afar as a TV pundit in ­Malaysia but he has seen enough to have lost patience with Mario ­Balotelli, Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure.

Barnes told the Daily Star Sunday: "I just couldn't believe it when Balotelli started the game against United in the derby. Why? How many lives does this fella have?

"I judge players by thinking, 'Would Sir Alex have bought him?' And in ­Balotelli's case the answer is ­definitely NO. Sir Alex hasn't got all his United buys right over the last 26 years but he wouldn't go anywhere near a player like him.

"Balotelli isn't consistent. Really big players are prepared to stand up and be counted every week. Every game.

"But you never know what you're ­going to get from him.

"I have never seen him have a good game, let alone smile. What's wrong with ­Balotelli? He's on ­fabulous money and playing for the ­current English champions.

"So why does he not seem to enjoy playing for City?

"I'm fed up with his snarling and sulking.

"In my view he's ­terribly lazy and doesn't put in a shift for the team.

"I know a few of the old Manchester City boys like Mike Summerbee would have soon sorted him out in the dressing room.

"He'd have told him in no uncertain terms he was lazy and letting the rest of the boys down.

"Balotelli starting the game at home to United? Mancini played into Fergie's hands in that one, didn't he?

"Balotelli was never going to put ­pressure on the United players.

"I'm constantly told he has got the ability but all I ever see him do is shrug his shoulders.

"He's temperamental and hasn't got the hunger for the ball in my eyes. A strange person. Yes, Balotelli has had too many lives in his short City career. There was the episode where he let off fireworks in his bathroom. Sir Alex wouldn't have put up with that.

"If I was Mancini I would flog him - and quick."

France international Nasri also copped flak from Barnes over his failure to defend properly when ­Robin van Persie scored his added-time clincher last Sunday.

Barnes said: "I'm not happy with Nasri, either. The way he reacted in the wall for that free-kick, sticking a boot out while hiding behind Edin Dzeko, was a joke.

"You never turn your back on the ball. That was obviously a game- changing moment and as a player you stand up to the ball, get it in your face or your b****cks.

"Nasri doesn't play consistently ­either and is another disappointment this season.

"He's definitely below par and goes out of the game far too easily. You never see him tackle anyone.

"He never gets a sweat on and does not?do enough for me. He doesn't show enough and, quite frankly, I think that he is much too inconsistent.

"James ­Milner will ­always give you 110 per cent. Nasri gives 85 per cent. He's not someone who works his socks off for the team.

"And I don't know what's ­happened to Yaya this season. Last season he was getting further upfield and ­scoring more goals. He was a ­revelation.

"Now he just seems to be lumbering too deep in midfield instead of being the box-to-box juggernaut of last ­season. I don't know whether that's down to him or Mancini.

"I just feel that Sir Alex has been too smart for the City boss. Fergie knows his best eleven and plays them. Mancini doesn't."