Balotelli is better than Torres: Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said that he has no regrets about missing out on Fernando Torres, as new signing Mario Balotelli is even better than the Spanish striker.

Mancini's admiration for Torres was well known, and he had hinted that he would make a bid.

But Liverpool was determined to keep the 50 million pound-rated star, so, Mancini opted for Inter Milan striker Balotelli.

The two strikers could face each other on Monday night as City host Liverpool at Eastlands, The Sun reports.

Mancini said: "Torres is a fantastic striker but I think it was difficult for Liverpool to sell him because he's such an important player for them. But it's good for us that we got Balotelli instead."

"Balotelli could be even better than Torres because Torres can only play as a striker. Balotelli can play as a striker or as a winger. What is sure is we are talking about two fantastic players," he said.

Mancini believes Balotelli (20) is already one of the best in the world. "In my view, there are eight or nine fantastic strikers in the world - and Torres and Balotelli are two of them.

"Then there's Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Tevez and Messi. They're all fantastic players and we've managed to get one of them," he said.

Premier League sides know all about Torres, 26, who has been terrorising defenders in England for three years.