The Italian rates the Dutchman as one of Europe's 'best'.
Roberto Mancini has admitted that Manchester City will enter the race to sign Robin van Persie if Arsenal fail to secure their captain to a new long-term contract this summer.
Van Persie, who scored his 32nd goal in all competitions for Arsenal during Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League victory against AC Milan at the Emirates, confirmed last week that he would postpone negotiations over a new deal at the club until the end of the season. The 28 year-old's contract expires in June next year.
City manager Mancini, in Portugal for the Europa League last 16 first-leg against Sporting Lisbon tonight, conceded that he expected Arsenal to persuade Van Persie to extend his stay at the club because of the importance of retaining their star player.
But having lured Samir Nasri from Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium last summer, when the London club chose to sell the French midfielder due to his refusal to sign a new contract, Mancini admits that City will be ready to take advantage of any reluctance on Van Persie's part to pledge his future to Arsene Wenger's team.
"I think if there is a good player who wants to leave a club, then we are interested," Mancini said. "But if this player wants to stay, we don't have any problem. I think Van Persie will sign a new contract at Arsenal because if Arsenal also lose Van Persie, they will have a big problem. But we are interested in all good players. This is normal. I think all the good teams are interested in Van Persie.
"At this moment Van Persie is one of the best strikers in Europe with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and with Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli. He is a fantastic striker, but I think he will remain with Arsenal."
Having lost Nasri, club captain Cesc Fabregas and French defender Gael Clichy, who joined City in a pounds 7?million deal, Arsenal are determined to prevent Van Persie from joining the exodus from Emirates.
It is understood that Arsenal are prepared to break their wage structure to offer Van Persie the financial rewards that he could expect at City, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Arsenal highlighted their reluctance to allow players to run down their contracts and leave for nothing by sanctioning Nasri's £24 million sale to City, however, and the club would face a huge financial quandary if Van Persie rejected a new deal.
With Van Persie's value approaching £30 million on the back of his incredible season, Arsenal's decision could ultimately boil down to financial sense, but Mancini believes that they have little option but to do everything to persuade him to stay.
Mancini said: "He is Arsenal's best player at the moment and it is difficult for them to give him to another club. In the summer, I think Arsenal will buy good players. I think because Arsenal is a top team, they want to win the next Premier League, so for these reasons [they will do everything to keep Van Persie]. I don't think he will be cheap just because he has one year left on his contract."
City's spending power could be limited this summer because of the club's determination to move closer to complying with Uefa's Financial Fair Play regulations. Incoming arrivals are likely to be funded by player sales, with Carlos Tevez expected to be sold at the end of the season, but City could also face renewed scrutiny because of their £400 million sponsorship deal with Etihad - the national airline of Abu Dhabi, the home of City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan.
Questions have been raised about the close links between Etihad and Sheikh Mansour, with the Council of Europe, the ombudsman for democracy, human rights and the rule law in the European Community, citing their concerns over their deal.
City remain confident that they will satisfy Uefa's strictures, however, and they are unlikely to hold back on summer targets if an opportunity arises to sign the likes of Van Persie.
Mancini, meanwhile, has confirmed that Balotelli has been fined one week's wages - £125,000 - for his trip to a Liverpool strip club in the early hours of last Friday. He is expected to start tonight's game on the bench.
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