After spending half a season with Manuel Pellegrini at Real Madrid and then his last season with the Chilean manager at Malaga, former Dutch international striker Ruud van Nistelrooy believes he will do well in the English Premiership with Manchester City.

Pellegrini is set to join the Sky Blues after signing off his tenure in La Liga with Malaga on Saturday night with a 4-1 defeat to Barcelona.

Pellegerini is now expected in England this week to open talks about taking over from Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, a role Van Nistelrooy believes the Chilean will flourish at.

"I can only tell from my own experience; half a season at Madrid I was with him and the last season of my career at Malaga," said Van Nistelrooy.

"My experience was very good on a professional and personal level and I rate him very highly.

"I think he proved with Villarreal most of all - and Malaga - he could build a team and get things moving and he can create a structural culture at the club where things get better.

"In that sense, and me saying this as an ex-United player, he will build something at City.

"I don't know what his plans are, I only know the way he works and as a person and he is up there with the best."