Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has declared that Manchester City will not be considered a big club until they have won the Champions League.

The veteran stopper insisted that Manuel Pellegrini's side are "desperate" to clinch European football's top prize after spending £150m this summer.

"You can buy big players, but you can't buy being a big club, you need to win the Champions League for that," he told The Mirror.

"Even when Juventus were in Serie B, they were still Juventus. Even in the time when they were not winning trophies, Real Madrid are always Real Madrid, and Manchester United are always Manchester United.

"With all they have spent, Manchester City will want to be thought of in that way, and they only way to achieve that is success in Europe."

City and Juventus are due to meet in the group stages of this season's Champions League.