Transfer rumours: Super Mario, Vucinic et al

Predictably, since Mancini's appointment the rumour mongerers, probably aided by a team of agents, have seen City linked with a plethora of Italian-based footballers. It reminds me of the legion of Swedes City were "after" upon Sven's appointment - Ibrahimovic, Ljungberg, Kallstrom, etc. The only Swede in Sven's squad was one he inherited, Andreas Isaksson, who only made a handful of appearances that season.

Time will tell whether Mancini's Italian connections are similarly spurious, or whether the signing of Patrick Vieira points the way to the arrivals of: Chiellini, Motta, Bonucci, De Rossi, Poli, Cassano, Vucinic, Balotelli, Buffon, Martinez, Maicon, Cordoba, and more besides that I have probably forgotten.

Some though are more persistent than others and perhaps the most persistent of them all is surrounding Mario Balotelli. Whilst the comments from his agent are mixed, there is no doubt Super Mario feels under-appreciated under Mourinho - and their tempestuous relationship has flared on numerous occasions this season - resulting in a public apology from Balotelli in the past week. So this transfer, as with much else it seems, hangs on the future of Jose Mourinho.

It was Mancini who gave Balotelli his debut at seventeen, and it has been widely quoted that Mancini is like a mentor and father-figure for Balotelli. If he feels he should move from Inter, this reunion would undoubtedly appeal to him. Balotelli has been the subject of some very worrying racial abuse at the homes of some northern Italian clubs and, despite it being said that he is fiercely patriotic, he has very often cut a frustrated and angry figure when I have seen him this season in Serie A.

Balotelli can play anywhere along the frontline and although he doesn't always observe defensive responsibilities, he could vie with Bellamy for the left-wing role - especially as Bellamy has said that the increased amount of games brought about by European competition could severely test his knees.

My main concern with Balotelli is his temperament, but if there is anyone who can temper it, it should be his 'father-figure' in the game - Mancini. At only nineteen, he has the potential to be one of the world's best players, but he certainly needs to be reined in.

The other Italian rumours of the day are for Mirko Vucinic, for around £22-24m, to add another world-class striker into the mix, and Leonardo Bonucci. Bonucci has been part of Bari's successful return to Serie A (they currently sit 11th) and at the half-way point of the season they had the second best defensive record of the division. He is only 22 and has recently landed his first full international cap with Italy. However, as City have a number of strong young centre backs of a similar age (Kompany, Onuoha, Micah, Boyata), I don't think this area is our priority. The same goes for Jerome Boateng.

The important factor behind most of the players that City have been linked with is that they are all potentially suited to the Premier League, in that they all have the physical attributes to adapt - Balotelli, De Rossi, Cassano, etc. So, if they do all come to fruition, we shouldn't be adding too many of them onto the Corrado Grabbi, Massimo Maccarone list of Italians who are unsuited to our game.