City's football development executive is well aware that the France international is being monitored by the big-spending Ligue 1 outfit's sporting director Leonardo as he is looking to recruit home nationality players in the summer transfer window.
Despite Nasri not enjoying his best season at the Etihad Stadium, which has resulted in some criticism directed at him by boss Roberto Mancini, Vieira hopes he will stay put in the Premier League.
"Samir could have done better. I think he, himself, is disappointed with the level he played at for several different reasons," Vieira told Radio Monte Carlo.
"But in the end, he remains an important player for us.
"I see him almost daily. I think he has learned a lot this year. He has faced competition and, when he was not good enough, he has been taken off.
"It has been an important season for him and I am sure he will come back even stronger.
"I hope he will stay. Time will tell. It's important to build a team in the long term. Samir is a very good player, a young player and I hope he will stay with us for a long time."
