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The Italian is eager to see English football follow the example set in Europe, where leagues traditionally break over the festive period, and believes it would benefit England

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has urged the Premier League to introduce a winter break in order to help with players’ fitness.

Barring a brief loan stint with Leicester, the 48-year-old spent his entire playing career in Italy and grew accustomed to a winter break.

As such, the Italian knows exactly how beneficial a break can be for players, helping them maintain their fitness, and believes the England national team would also benefit from a fresher squad.

“I think that in England you need to have a break in December for the national team because we play a lot of games,” Mancini told reporters.

“The moment that they decide to give players one week off in December it will be good for the teams and national team.”

City’s final competitive fixture of the season is at home to Norwich on May 19 before back-to-back friendlies against Chelsea in America just a week later.

Many of the Italian’s squad will then go on international duty, with the Confederations Cup and the World Cup qualifiers taking place in the summer, and Mancini is concerned by the workload.

“Players don't have the time to recover very well,” continued Mancini.  “When we finish the championship we go [for] one week in New York.

“And after they come back, some players play in the Confederations Cup and in qualification for the World Cup. That is incredible.”

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