Milner was Mancini's most expensive purchase of the summer at �26m from Aston Villa

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has defended the club's transfer policy after spending around £125m on players over the course of the summer.

There has also been criticism of City's wage levels with Yaya Toure believed to be earning more than £200,000 a week.

Mancini told BBC Sport: "[Manchester United boss] Sir Alex [Ferguson] has spent a lot of money in the past.

"Not this year, but in the past I think United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool were like us this year."

City's football administrator Brian Marwood, speaking on a special programme on the men from Eastlands on BBC Radio 5 live before their Europa League tie on Thursday, echoed Mancini's comments, adding: "No-one condemned Manchester United or Chelsea for the money they've spent, because they bought quality."

Since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought City in September 2008, the club has spent more than £300m on a host of new players.

This summer alone, Mancini has signed James Milner (£26m), Aleksandar Kolarov (£16m), David Silva (£24m), Jerome Boateng (£10m), Mario Balotelli (£24m) and Yaya Toure (£24m).

The City manager, who was also interviewed for BBC Radio 5 live special, added: "This year we bought good young players.

"Only Yaya is 28, the other players are aged 24 or 23 and a good investment for the club."

Not all of Sheikh Mansour's millions are being ploughed into the first team though.

Marwood explained: "We are fortunate to have owners who are prepared to invest in the whole of the club and it's not just for now, it's for the future.

"There has been a good conveyor belt of players coming through the academy over the years and we are proud of what we've done since it was started.

"We want to maintain our heritage in terms of the academy and producing good young footballers."

Earlier in August Ferguson, without identifying any one club, accused some of Manchester United's rivals of going on a "kamikaze" spending spree.

Without mentioning Ferguson, Marwood added: "A lot of people are misinformed, they form opinions without knowing the true facts.

"It's become laughable, some of the comments about our football club. We are comfortable in terms of what we set out to do and the direction we are heading.

"We've seen [at other clubs] a lot of people come and very quickly go and leave a trail of destruction.

"Sheikh Mansour, [chairman Khaldoon] Al Mubarrak and those involved want to be in it for the long haul. They want to put a structure in place they can enjoy for a number of years."

Marwood also confirmed that Shay Given would be staying at Eastlands.

The Republic of Ireland international, who was widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League last season, has been kept out of the side by Joe Hart so far this season.

Marwood said: "He's going to fight for his place. It's a bit strange for him because he's been number one for a long time.

"But the club is trying to build a squad that is capable of challenging for every competition we play in this year.

"Last year we got cruelly exposed because we had two goalkeepers out injured and we had to go and find a keeper to play in our last three games when we fighting for a Champions League place."

City hold the current British transfer fee record, having spent £32.5m on bringing in Robinho from Real Madrid in 2008 - although the Brazilian is looking to move away from Eastlands.

However, Ferguson paid Tottenham £30.75m for striker Dimitar Berbatov in 2008, while Chelsea splashed out £30.8m to sign Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan in 2006.

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