Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has expressed an interest in signing Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure this summer.

Mancini, who managed Toure at City, is a big admirer of the Ivory Coast international and believes the 31-year-old would be a great addition to his squad.

"Yaya is one of the strongest players in the world," Mancini told Italian newspaper Il Giornale. "He still is.

"He has played in so many teams. He has been in leagues in Belgium, Russia, Spain and England. Italy is the one missing. This could be the right opportunity for him to come and try.

"We are building a team. There are players that change the look of a team, and Yaya is one of them.

"Next year we could try. We need to bring three champions, and we will see that we will be ready to fight for the Scudetto."

Toure is under contract with the Blues until June 2017 and has scored seven goals in 18 Barclays Premier League appearances this season.

Mancini, who led City from 2009 until 2013 and oversaw their maiden Premier League title success in 2011-2012, returned to Inter last November for a second spell at the San Siro.

The Nerazzurri are 10th in Serie A, 23 points adrift of leaders Juventus.