"Great strikers like Toni and Batistuta have played in Florence and I feel like one of them," Mutu was quoted as saying by Calcio Italia on Thursday.

"Florence is a special city – the fans always help the team and give us players a unique welcome."

Mutu has excelled with Fiorentina since joining them from Juventus in the summer of 2006.

The 29-year-old frontman scored 16 goals in his first season with Viola and continued his fine goalscoring run this term.

Mutu has scored 15 goals so far, just three short of Serie A top scorer Marco Borriello, who plays for Genoa.