A statue is pictured in front of the former head quarters of Germany's largest business bank, Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, January 28, 2013. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach BARI, Italy (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank is under investigation in Italy for suspected market manipulation relating to the sale of Italian government bonds in 2011, an investigative source said on Friday.

A prosecutor in southern Italy is investigating the German bank's sale of 7 billion euros worth of Italian state debt as Italy approached a debt crisis that eventually brought down the government of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Deutsche Bank had no immediate comment.

Five former managers of Deutsche Bank as well as the bank itself are under investigation in the case, the source said.

(Reporting by Vincenzo Damiani, writing by Isla Binnie, editing by Giselda Vagnoni)