Manchester City fitness coach Ivan Carminati has admitted Daniele De Rossi has the quality the club is looking for.
The Roma star was linked with a summer move to the Etihad Stadium and has the flexibility that manager Roberto Mancini demands having played in a back-three for Italy at Euro 2012.
Carminati is keen to point out that any decision will not be his to make but acknowledges that the 29-year-old midfielder is a top-class player.
"This is a question that is beyond my scope," Carminati told tuttomercatoweb.com.
"I can say that Manchester City are a club that aims only for top players and De Rossi is one of them."
De Rossi could potentially link up with international team-mate Mario Balotelli at City but the forward has himself been linked with a move away from the club.
But Carminati insists Balotelli is happy with the Premier League champions despite not featuring in the first team of late.
"He is training well, the coach has a lot of high level players and he makes technical choices," added Carminati.
"But I see Mario happy and peaceful."
