Former Manchester City striker Rolando Bianchi says he values his spell in England.

The former Torino centre-forward played for City during the Thaksin Shinawatra era.

He told TMW: "Shinawatra wanted to win, he didn't want to waste time. Then he had his problems at home and was forced to sell. I knew City would grow.

"I always liked him, he was always present with us when he was in Manchester, he didn't miss anything, he treated us like a god. We were envied, the player had a single room in retreat, difficult to see in football. So the athletes can self-manage, can rest, they are small but fundamental things."

On playing for Sven-Goran Eriksson, he added: "Very great coach, able to manage the players, he made you have fun. He had an important elegance, he was old-fashioned."