Manchester City fans have rallied behind former boss Roberto Mancini by placing a 'Grazie Mancini' advert in Italian newspaper Gazetta Dello Sport.

The move comes 10 days after Mancini touched the hearts of City fans with a full page advert in the M.E.N thanking them for their support.

Loyal blue Adam Keyworth, 21, started an online campaign to raise the £7,000 needed for a reciprocating message in the famous Italian sports paper – taking just four days to raise the sum.

The University of Nottingham student revealed on Twitter last night that the advert was set to appear and that money left over from the campaign would be donated to local Manchester charities.

The advert, telling Mancini, 'once a blue, always a blue' appears on page 13 of the daily tabloid paper.

It also reads, 'per sempre uno di noi' – Italian for 'forever one of us'.

The love letter, with an image of Mancini smiling in his trademark blue and white scarf, is signed off from 'Manchester City Supporters'.

The Italian - who has not spoken to the media in England or back home since his bombshell sacking on May 13 - broke his silence with a full-page advert to acknowledge 'three unforgettable years' five days later.

Mancini, 48, told the Etihad faithful, 'You will always be in my heart' - before signing off with 'ciao'.

MEN staff were sworn to secrecy about the full-page advert - thought to be an unprecedented gesture by an axed football boss.