Agent denies Balotelli move rumours

Mario Balotelli's agent does not believe any Italian club could afford to buy the Manchester City striker, or pay his wages.Speculation has swirled around the former Inter Milan player, who has started just one of City's last eight matches in all competitions through a combination of injury and non-selection.AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi fuelled further rumours on Tuesday night by confirming his interest in the 22-year-old ahead of a Champions League defeat to Zenit St Petersburg.
When asked to comment on rumours of a mooted bid for Balotelli in January, he told Sky Sport Italia: "No, it's not a dream. I never dream."But the City forward's agent, Mino Raiola, was quick to diffuse talk of a big money move, saying Milan could not afford his client."No Italian club would be able to afford him," he told Sky Sport Italia. "Balotelli is as valuable as the Mona Lisa."And City have been very clear - they don't want to sell."

Mancini admits he has soft spot for Balotelli

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli’s future is once again the subject of speculation following continued concerns about his lifestyle.And after he was left out of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at Real Madrid there have been further suggestions of a fall-out with his manager. Mancini dismissed those rumours on Friday, insisting that his patience for the Italian international was ‘endless’ - adding that he can even live with the player’s smoking habit if he performs on the pitch. But Mancini also warned the 22-year-old that he will have to accept a rotation policy that appears to leave him behind Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero in City’s pecking order. Balotelli might have expected to push for a regular starting place for the Premier League champions this season after starring for his country at Euro 2012.But with competition from Tevez, Aguero and Edin Dzeko, he is likely to find himself on the bench at times this term - or out of the squad entirely, as was the case at the Bernabeu.

Mancini said: “The European Championships are different. You have five games in 20 days.

“Here it is a tactical situation and one important player like Mario or James Milner can go in the stands. When we have all the players, it is difficult for me.

“It is difficult for every player, but we wanted to have this team. We improved this team.

“He was upset, this is normal for a player who can’t play in the Bernabeu.

“It was only a tactical choice, because I only needed two strikers on the bench. Three is too many.

“We have four top players and usually we played with two and two on the bench, but also we have players who can play as a second striker like Yaya Toure or Samir Nasri or David Silva.

“Yes it is difficult to keep Mario happy. But he went in the stand in Madrid and maybe he can play on Sunday.

“I don’t want it to be that every time Mario doesn’t play, it is because he did something wrong.”Mancini has clearly grown tired of the constant speculation about his relationship with the striker he nurtured as a prodigious talent at Inter Milan.

Balotelli’s high-profile indiscretions have tested his manager’s patience to the limit - earning two red cards last season and another ban for a stamp on Tottenham’s Scott Parker.

But it was his red against Arsenal, a game in which he also committed a knee-high challenge on Alex Song, that looked like spelling the end of his City career.

At the time Mancini appeared to be ready to wash his hands of the £24m hitman, saying: “He needs to change his behaviour if he wants to continue to play.

“I saw in my life a lot of players like Mario that are fantastic, arrogant guys. But, after, they lose all their talent like this and they finish in two or three years. Mario is this way.”

Balotelli has openly lampooned his image as a wild child, famously revealing a T-shirt that read: ‘Why always me?’ during City’s 6-1 win against United last season.

It was suggested that he was left out of the 3-2 defeat to Real this week after he was photographed on a night out with Amir Khan.

He has also been pictured smoking, which is hardly ideal behaviour for a top-class sportsman.

But while Mancini does not condone his habit, he insists it is the player’s performances on the pitch that are his main concern. And he chose to dismiss any talk of problems between the two leading to the decision to drop Balotelli.

“It is totally false,” he said. “It is not true. Mario went to the stand only because we decided to play with only Tevez.

“Mario is a player like other players, when he is on the bench sometimes they don’t understand.”

He added: “My patience for him is endless. It is not my problem if he smokes. I don’t smoke, I don’t like to smoke.

“If he wants to smoke, it is his problem. If he wants my opinion – it is better if he finishes.

“But if he smokes 10 cigarettes every day and scores two goals every game, it is okay.”

Balotelli needs eye surgery

Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli needs surgery on a minor eye condition, first team coach David Platt said on Saturday.

"Mario will have an operation in a few days," Platt told City's website (www.mcfc.co.uk) after the 3-1 home victory over Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League.

"It's not a major procedure and he should be back quite quickly. I've heard suggestions he will be out for a month but that's not true.

"Hopefully it will correct a problem he's been having for some time and he can move on from there," added Platt.

Manchester City reject £40M Balotelli Bid

Manchester City have been forced to reject a £40m bid for Mario Balotelli from PSG after Roberto Mancini threatened to quit.The Italian striker is apparently one of PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti's top transfer targets and is keen to land him, despite having already signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi this summer.
The big spending Parisians reportedly lodged a huge bid for the 21-year-old but Mancini forced the City board to reject it by threatening to quit if his compatriot was sold.Mancini is desperate to keep Balotelli at the Etihad Stadium despite having had a number of public fallouts with the temperamental forward during his two years at City.Nonetheless, Mancini believes Balotelli's form at Euro 2012 showed the kind of player he can be and has revealed there are plenty of clubs willing to take a gamble on the former Inter Milan youngster.He said: "Mario did a fantastic European Championship. He's 21, it is clear that he can improve.
'This summer we had a lot of requests for him."Mancini is thought to have told the City board to forget about selling Balotelli and instead try to get rid of Emmanuel Adebayor after he turned down the chance to join Tottenham.

Balotelli Targeted by Neo Nazi's

Mario Balotelli, the black Italian soccer star whose goals have fired Italy into the final of the Euro 2012 soccer championships on Sunday, was raised by a Jewish Italian foster mother from the age of three.The eccentric, talented, headline-making forward, who was born Mario Barwuah to immigrants from Ghana in Palermo, rushed over to embrace his foster mother, Silvia Balotelli, after Thursday’s win over Germany, which was secured by two Balotelli goals, had given Italy a place in Sunday’s final against Spain.Along with other members of the Italian team, Balotelli had visited Auschwitz earlier this month before the start of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Poland, and he was reportedly the player most affected by the visit.

According to a Radio Netherlands report earlier this week, Balotelli sat down alone on the train tracks at the death camp, staring silently ahead. “A while later, he tells his team-mates about a box of letters that his Jewish adoptive mother kept underneath her bed. He had never told anyone.”

Some neo-Nazi groups, in Italy and beyond, who had already been abusing the player because he is black, are now also targeting him for his Jewish “ancestry.” One racist on an extremist web-site, Stormfront, wrote recently: “Balotelli’s black and he’s Jewish. He should play for Israel, not Italy.”

Balotelli, 21, was one of four children born to Christian parents Thomas and Rose Barwuah, immigrants from Ghana. He suffered with life-threatening health issues, requiring frequent intestinal surgery, and his poor health put a heavy strain on his already impoverished family. After they sought state assistance following a move to Milan, the authorities suggested he be placed into foster care, according to the Radio Netherlands report, which is partly based on his biological parents’ account:

“That’s how Mario Barwuah came into contact with the Balotellis” — Francesco and Silvia – ”a white family who lived in a villa in a small nearby village. At first, he stayed at the Balotellis during the week and returned to his family on weekends. But after a while things changed. Mario started to treat his (biological) parents with indifference. Ultimately, he took his weekday family’s surname.”

When he became successful as a soccer player, his biological parents sought to re-enter his life, but Balotelli rejected them as “glory hunters.”

Despite his unpromising health and complex family background, Balotelli proved to be a soccer prodigy, becoming the youngest player ever to play in Italy’s third division, at age 15, and ultimately impressing as a player for top Italian side Inter Milan. He then moved to England’s Manchester City, with whom he won the Premier League title this past season.

At the same time, he has been a figure of controversy, ridicule and affection over the years — sporting eccentric hair-styles, once having his UK home set on fire by errant fireworks, and being sent off intermittently for undisciplined behavior on the field.

At the Euro championships, however, he has been one of the players of the tournament. As regards racist abuse, his coach Cesare Prandelli said this week: “This is a social problem. If Mario gets any problem, I’ll hug him on the pitch.”

Prandelli has had his difficulties with Balotelli too, dropping him from one of the tournament’s earlier games, but his performance against Germany seems certain to ensure he’ll play in the final.

The player described the victory against Germany as “the most wonderful night of my life so far,” adding, “but I hope Sunday is even better.”

Dedicating his goals to “my mother,” who had come from Italy to watch him play, Balotelli said: ”At the end of the game when I went to my mother, that was the best moment. I told her these goals were for her. I waited a long time for this moment, especially as my mother is not young anymore and can’t travel far, so I had to make her happy when she came all the way here. My father will be in Kiev for the final too.”

Balotelli double sends Italy through to Euro 2012 final

Mario Balotelli's first-half double saw Italy through to the final of Euro 2012 as they stunned Germany in Warsaw.Germany were hot favourites going into this semi-final but Balotelli struck twice before half-time and Germany were unable to claw their way back.Mesut Ozil pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in injury time, but Italy deservedly held on to set up a final against Spain on Sunday.The win continues Italy's remarkable record in major tournaments against Germany, who have failed to beat the Italians in eight attempts.This emerging young German side were tipped by many to go all the way at this tournament, but their burgeoning progress was checked by a clinical Italy team.Germany started the match as expected and the Italians were lucky to survive a couple of early wobbles by their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
The Italy captain was caught in no-man's-land early on, allowing Mats Hummels to poke goalwards only to see Andrea Pirlo scramble the ball off the line.Minutes later, Buffon pushed out a Jerome Boateng cross and was relieved to see the loose ball bounce off his own defender, Andrea Barzagli, and behind for a corner.But midway through the first half it was Italy who made the breakthrough with a quite brilliantly worked goal. Germany stood off Pirlo, allowing the Italy playmaker to sweep a pass out to Giorgio Chiellini who fed Antonio Cassano.Cassano superbly spun away from two defenders and swept in an inviting cross that allowed Balotelli to drift away from Bastuber and head home from close range.Sixteen minutes later, the Italians remarkably doubled their lead with a sweeping counter-attack following a Germany corner.
Italy left two strikers forward and the tactic paid off as Riccardo Montolivo swept a long ball over the head of Philipp Lahm, allowing Balotelli to chest the ball down and run clear before smashing an unstoppable shot beyond a stunned Manuel Neuer.
The first-half double saw the young Manchester City striker double his international goal tally -- having scored just once coming in to Euro 2012 Balotelli is now the tournament's joint leading goalscorer on three.Germany needed a response in the second half and they got it in effort, but not in goals.A smart one-two on the edge of the area between Lahm and Toni Kroos ended with Lahm sidefooting over when he should have hit the target. A goal then would have ensured a fascinating second half , but Italy looked just as likely to score again as Germany increasingly gambled at the back.Balotelli curled a shot across the face of goal before limping off with cramp and Claudio Marchisio twice drilled wide from inviting positions as Italy failed to kill off the German threat.Substitute Antonio Di Natale wasted another golden chance eight minutes from time when he ran clear but fired into the side netting, but at the other end Italy's defending was outstanding.That resilience was emphatically underlined by Federico Balzaretti's goal-saving tackle to keep out substitute Marco Reus late on, although Balzaretti's handball in stoppage time did give Ozul the chance to score from the spot.That came too late to save Germany though and Italy now face a Spain side who they held 1-1 in the group stages earlier in this tournament.

Balotelli Fined By Manchester City

Manchester City have fined striker Mario Balotelli one week's wages for breaking a club curfew. Less than 48 hours before their clash with Bolton last week, Balotelli was pictured leaving a strip club.Balotelli played and scored in the 2-0 win over Bolton, but afterwards Mancini said he would be hitting the Italian striker with a fine.Now Mancini has confirmed that Balotelli has been disciplined."I spoke with Mario and gave him a fine of one week's wages for what he did," Mancini said after landing in Portugal ahead of their Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday."This is normal because every player should have good behaviour before the game."When asked if Balotelli had accepted the fine, Mancini said: "Yes."Balotelli admitted earlier in the week, he was wrong to have broken club rules.

Balotelli Facing Club Fine

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will fine Mario Balotelli if reports he broke a club curfew are true. Balotelli allegedly went on a night out in Liverpool which lasted until the early hours of Friday morning despite having a game against Bolton on Saturday afternoon. That would be a breach of Mancini's rules and the City boss has said he will investigate. Mancini spoke after Balotelli started and scored in City's 2-0 win over Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium, Gretar Steinsson having opened the scoring with an own-goal. The Italian said: "This is Mario, I don't know whether this is true. "I only heard about this at the stadium because I never read the newspaper. I will speak with him - I am really disappointed about this. "It is not correct, not only for me and the squad but for him, because he is a professional player. "He can't stay outside the house two days before a game until two o'clock. If it is true we will do the maximum fine that we can."

Balotelli charged and facing four match ban

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is facing a four-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the FA. The 21-year-old has until 6pm today to respond to the charge, which relates to an incident in which he appeared to catch Scott Parker’s head with his foot during Sunday’s 3-2 Barclays Premier League win over Tottenham. The one consolation for City is that Joleon Lescott will face no further action for catching Younes Kaboul in the face with his forearm in a separate incident at the Etihad Stadium. If he accepts his charge, Balotelli will miss the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool at Anfield. However, should the Italy international decide to appeal, he will be free to face the Merseyside giants, with a hearing taking place later this week. It would seem, though, Balotelli would be at risk of getting the suspension extended if he took that course of action as referee Howard Webb informed the FA yesterday that, had he seen the Italian’s apparent stamp, he would have sent the City player off. It is a view widely shared across the game, with a succession of former players and managers arguing that Balotelli should have been sent off. That he went on to score the injury-time penalty that gave City their win, only heightened Harry Redknapp’s discomfort immediately after the game. "I don’t like people kicking other people in the head on a football pitch," said the Tottenham boss after the game. "It is not something I understand. "Why should he go and back-heel someone in the head when he is on the floor?" If he accepts the charge, Balotelli would also miss the Premier League trips to Everton and Aston Villa, plus the home encounter with Fulham on February 4. It is the latest in a long line of disciplinary issues involving Balotelli since his arrival from Inter Milan at the beginning of last season, and for City during January. Gareth Barry was sent off for two bookable offences during the recent Premier League encounter with Liverpool, meaning he missed the FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United. It was the early dismissal of Vincent Kompany for a two-footed tackle on Nani during that game that infuriated manager Roberto Mancini. City failed to overturn the Belgian’s four-match suspension, which he completes tomorrow. Now the City manager must face being without a key member of his squad for four crucial games whilst midfielder Yaya Toure is still absent on African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast. Sky pundit Graeme Souness described Balotelli as "a car crash waiting to happen", indicating the 21-year-old could cost City the title. Balotelli has been sent off three times in his fledgling City career and was branded "stupid" by Mancini following the second of those, against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League last season.

Balotelli Upsets Mancini Again!

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli faces the wrath of manager Roberto Mancini after preparing for Monday night's crucial game at Chelsea with a late night out that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning. Italian striker Balotelli is in the City squad for what is arguably their biggest game of the Barclays Premier League season at Stamford Bridge. Balotelli was out until at least 12.45am in Manchester city centre after a Saturday night out with friends.City yesterday declined to comment on the alleged incident, but did confirm that first-team players are not expected to be socialising less than 48 hours before a game. Mancini is known to have a more relaxed attitude than some Premier League managers, but it is clear he will be unimpressed with another lapse in discipline from the controversial Balotelli. The 21-year-old was not thought to have been drinking alcohol in the Zouk Bar and Restaurant but was described by one eye witness as behaving 'boisterously' with a group of friends. City had their last training session before the clash in west London on Sunday morning, meaning Balotelli will not have had a full night's sleep beforehand.

Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City

Mario Balotelli was sent off but Manchester City held on to extend their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. It may prove to be a crucial point in the final analysis for Roberto Mancini's team following Manchester United's home draw with Newcastle United on Saturday, but they wre indebted to several superb saves by Joe Hart in the closing stages when they were forced onto the back foot. City edged the first half and deservedly took the lead just past the half-hour mark when, from David Silva's pinpoint corner, Vincent Kompany guided his header past Pepe Reina. Unfortunately for City their lead lasted less than two minutes as Joleon Lescott diverted Charlie Adam's ambitious long-range low drive past the wrong-footed Hart. Kenny Dalglish's side had the better chances to win the game after the interval but, after Hart had denied Stewart Downing, City substitute Balotelli was dismissed only 18 minutes after replacing the innocuous Samir Nasri. In the 77th minute he was booked for hauling Glen Johnson down and was shown a second yellow card six minutes later after a clumsy aerial challenge on Martin Skrtel. City were forced to defend valiantly in the closing stages and sub Andy Carroll almost won it for Liverpool in stoppage time, only to be denied by the inspirational Hart.

Balotelli gives evidence in Italian Mafia case

Eccentric Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has told prosecutors in Italy that he saw a 'table full of drugs' at a Mafia boss's HQ in Naples. The 21-year-old Italian, who is a witness into an investigation into money-laundering in his homeland, said that he was taken into a bar by suspected crime boss Marco Iorio when he was in the Secondigliano area of the city hiring a yacht. Balotelli said that he found himself in the heartland of the Camorra crime family and immediately demanded to be taken back to his hotel. The Italian media have reported that the former Inter Milan striker said in evidence: 'I saw, from 10m, a table full of drugs.' Balotelli joined up with the Italian national side on Wednesday, and he will travel to Naples in less than a fortnight for City's Champions League tie with Napoli. But the striker has claimed his testimony is 'nothing to worry about.'

Balotelli Strange but not Crazy

Mario Balotelli has admitted his off-field antics are ‘strange’ but insisted he is ‘not crazy’.The Manchester City striker made news again last month when he had to flee his home after fireworks were set off in his bathroom. But, training with the Italy squad ahead of their friendly in Poland, Balotelli denied he liked the attention. ‘When you are famous, there’s a tendency to talk more about my personal life than what I do on the pitch,’ he said. ‘It annoys me but I am not crazy – although sometimes I do strange things that are considered entertaining.’ The 21-year-old prefers to do his talking on the pitch and feels he has improved as a player since joining City from Inter Milan in the summer of 2010. ‘The Premier League has taught me to run a lot,’ he added. ‘To go for the ball and when I lose it to press to recover it. Now I have more playing time and this gives me more confidence. ‘[Italy coach Cesare] Prandelli and [City boss Roberto] Mancini have given me the calmness to play, something I didn’t have before.’ And Balotelli, who is under contract at City until 2015, believes his long-term future is in the Premier League. ‘I don’t miss Serie A,’ he said. ‘I’m very happy to be in England. ‘Italian football has been in decline. ‘The Premier League is beautiful and I play for the strongest team in England. ‘I want to remain at City. I don’t see a return to play in Italy in the future

Balotelli "Why Always Me?"

Goalkeeper Joe Hart admits life can be frustrating with Mario Balotelli but is convinced the striker now has his head "screwed on". Balotelli's remarkable propensity to create headlines on and off the pitch continued over the weekend after a domestic firework incident was followed by a devastating two-goal display in a 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United. The fire service were called to Balotelli's Cheshire home in the early hours of Saturday morning after a firework set off from inside the bathroom started a blaze. The Italian was forced to decamp to a hotel but the incident barely seemed to have ruffled him as he revealed a T-shirt saying 'Why Always Me?' after his first goal in Sunday's rout at Old Trafford. The 21-year-old rarely seems far from controversy despite earning praise for greater on-field maturity of late but, after six goals in five games, Hart is growing to love him. Hart told City TV: "I think we were all a bit unsure last season, outside and inside, what he was about. I think he has grown as a person and accepted who and what he is in this team. He is someone we look to. All the hype that comes with Mario is standard procedure. That is the beauty of football, that is what he is. "You get these characters and sometimes it is frustrating to be with him, but not so much this season. His head is really screwed on and we are all 100% behind him. I think everyone is delighted he is getting the right kind of love he deserves."

Manchester City Thrash United at Old Trafford

Manchester City inflicted Manchester United's worst home defeat since February 1955 as they thrashed the champions in ruthless fashion to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.City were also the victors on that occasion 56 years ago, winning 5-0, but this visit was portrayed as a measure of their progress against the 19-time champions.And Roberto Mancini's men could not have delivered a more emphatic statement as Sir Alex Ferguson's side were humiliated. It was the first time United had conceded six goals at Old Trafford since 1930, when Huddersfield won 6-0 and Newcastle 7-4 within four days of each other.City led just 1-0 at half-time, but the second half was completely one-sided and the eventual margin of victory could have been even more convincing.Mario Balotelli, in the headlines for accidentally setting his house ablaze with fireworks, put City on their way with goals either side of the interval as United struggled to contain the array of attacking talent in front of them.United were reduced to 10 men when Jonny Evans was sent off early in the second half but City's superiority was such that they looked on course for a landmark victory from the moment they took the lead.Sergio Aguero added a third and, even though Darren Fletcher pulled a goal back, this only proved the signal for a late surge by City that brought three more goals and a result that will have sent shockwaves through the Premier League.Substitute Edin Dzeko scrambled in a fourth and the magnificent David Silva ran clear to add another, before the Bosnian striker inflicted the final wound seconds from the end.

Balotelli reveals his intriguing lifestyle

Italian footballer, Mario Balotelli has not been in England long - he only joined Manchester City in August - but he is fast becoming a cult figure among followers of the Premier League for his alarming self-confidence and frank way with words. The Manchester City striker gives an intriguing insight into his life as a Premier League footballer. In his latest interview, with Italian newspaper ***Gazzetto Della Sport***, the usually sulky striker reveals he has mixed feelings about living in Manchester. He likes to set off fireworks from his balcony, claims that he is loved by fans of City’s bitter rivals, United, and says that Wayne Rooney is nothing special. There is no doubting that Balotelli has a high opinion of himself and likes to talk. In December, he accepted the coveted Golden Boy award for the best young player in Europe by insulting most of the other players in the running - claiming that he hadn’t even heard of his runner-up, the Arsenal and England midfielder, Jack Wilshere. He then declared himself to be better than most former winners of the award, with the generous exception of Lionel Messi - the best player in the world. But in his latest interview, he takes things to a new level. From a footballing perspective he has declared Manchester City’s attack - of which he is an integral part - to be the best in the world, and once again wound up Wayne Rooney, one of the former winners of the Golden Boy award. “He is a very good player but not the best in Manchester,” declared Balotelli, before turning his thoughts to the City front line. “Think about this one: Balotelli-Carlos Tevez-Edin Dzeko. Is it not good enough? Can you see anything better than this now in the world? Me neither, not even at Barcelona or Real [Madrid].” But even more entertaining and illuminating are his musings on life in general, though he inadvertently paints a picture of himself as a slightly disturbed young man. He is frank about being homesick after arriving in England. “Sometimes I just had no wish to do anything at all, I’d shut myself inside my flat,” he said. “Even [coach, Roberto] Mancini’s sons were trying to get me to come out. “I live right in the centre of Manchester, in a modern building, with a splendid view. One day, when my brother Giovanni was outside, he looked up and said to his girlfriend, ‘How nice, Camilla. Look, they’re doing fireworks in Manchester.’ But it was me, shooting them off from the ninth floor.” Despite his habit of letting off fireworks on his balcony, Balotelli is not concerned about his standing with his neighbours. “They adore me,” he announced. “When I score, they stick little congratulatory notes to my door. At Christmas, they presented me with bottles of wine. But I do not drink.” Even fans of Manchester United have taken to him, he claims. Asked if he had encountered hostility he claimed: “No, they stop me in the street and tell me: ‘Mario, come to United.’ Honestly.” He also gave an insight into the hilarious high-jinxes that enliven a young footballer’s life. He revealed that his teammates like to play practical jokes on him – “If I wear some strange shoes, they stick them onto the ceiling of the dressing room with adhesive” - and that some visiting friends from Italy once put a live lobster in his car. Like any self-respecting Premier League star, Balotelli has been seen enjoying the company of glamour models and apparently cheated on Playboy pin-up, Sophie Reade with her best friend. He explains himself to the Italian paper thus: “I have only seen her once and she began bombarding me with messages, but she has a friend who is much more interesting.” However, he does not see eye-to-eye with another notorious Italian womaniser, Silvio Berlusconi. On hearing that his prime minister rated another Italian player as his favourite, he responded: “He’s mistaken, or he doesn’t know Balotelli. Balotelli joined City from Inter Milan last summer and recently made headlines in the press by declaring Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney was not the best player in Manchester. When asked about the 20-year-old Italy international, former Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo said to ***Gazzetta dello Sport***: “He is a good player but he has to speak less and play more.” He continues: “In the Premier League, if he knows how to listen and wants to learn, he could become a great player. I hope he achieves that.” However, he puts many other things ahead of his career and this is not good.”

Chelsea chasing Pato

Chelsea are trailing AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato according  with a cash-plus-player deal being mooted. Manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to try and persuade Blues owner Roman Abramovich to try and sign the Brazilian forward. A £30 million-player-plus-cash deal is in the pipeline for the player who has been tracked by Chelsea for the last three years. Villas-Boas see’s the striker as the perfect foil for Fernando Torres and believes their partnership could fire the club to Champions League success. Chelsea are understood to be willing to offer £20 million plus either Nicolas Anelka or Salomon Kalou in exchange for Pato’s services. It’s thought that Milan are prepared to let the Brazilian go if they can secure the signature of Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli. However they may ask Chelsea for more money if they do go ahead with a move for Balotelli who has admitted he wants a move away from City. Pato scored 14 goals in 25 appearances last season at the San Siro despite being afflicted by minor injures all year losing his place in the national team to Neymar in the process. However the 21-year-old has plenty of Champions League experience for a player of his age and fits the profile of the type of player Villas-Boas wants at Stamford Bridge.

AC Milan to Swoop for Balotelli and Aquilani

AC Milan could make a double Premier League swoop as they line up bids for Mario Balotelli and Alberto Aquilani, according to reports in Italy. The Italian giants are looking to spend having won the Serie A title last season and have set their sights on two Italians who have failed to settle in England. Manchester City frontman Balotelli, who has long been linked with a return to the San Siro having played for city rivals Inter, admitted at the weekend that he had failed to settle in Manchester. And Gazzetta dello Sport have claimed that AC Milan will step up their interest in the 20-year-old, with vice-president Adriano Galliani saying: “We will see what happens.” If the move does go through then Balotelli could be joined at the San Siro by Liverpool outcast Aquilani. The midfielder has disappointed since Rafael Benitez spent £20m to bring him to Anfield, and he was allowed to join Juventus on loan last summer. Juventus declined to make the move permanent and a proposed switch to Fiorentina also fell through, but AC Milan could offer him a route back to Italy for a fee of just £5.5m plus add-ons. “It is necessary to look at the details, but for the player, having an opportunity to join a large team would be very attractive,” Aquilani’s agent, Franco Zavaglia, told Radio Radio.

Balotelli Showboating Angers Mancini

Mario Balotelli’s failed trick shot sparked a heated row with manager Roberto Mancini that took the shine off Manchester City’s penalty shootout win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. The Italian striker with a hot-headed reputation scored the only goal in normal time for City but was substituted by the time the teams went to a penalty shootout to decide the exhibition match. Mancini was incensed after Balotelli broke away on the Galaxy goal in the 28th minute and then turned backwards and tried to hit a ball into the net with the back of his foot. The ball went wide and Balotelli was subbed as soon as his replacement could warm up. “I think for the player, this can be a lesson,” Mancini said. “This can’t happen on a strong team. “I hope he understands that he needs to have good behaviour.” Goalkeeper Joe Hart scored the game-winning penalty kick as City beat the Galaxy 7-6 in a penalty shootout . Balotelli, who has been criticised before for his unprofessional antics, was replaced by James Milner. Once on the sidelines, Mancini and Balotelli got into it. Mancini appeared to motion for Balotelli to head to the locker room but Balotelli extended his arms, said something and then sat down on the bench where he slammed a cup to the turf and took off his jersey as he watched the rest of the half. He stayed in the locker room for the second half. Mancini told reporters after the match that the situation is under control and there is no need to take it any further. The temperamental Balotelli has a chequered past. Three months ago he got into a row with Manchester United players at the end of a FA Cup semifinal match. Balotelli had to be dragged away from the scrum that ensued after the Italian’s spirited victory celebration angered the United players. In March, Balotelli was investigated by the club after a claim he threw a dart at some youth-team players at the club’s training facility. Three months earlier, Mancini has to break up a fight between Balotelli and Jerome Boateng after Balotelli reacted angrily to a challenge by his teammate during a training session. The win over the Galaxy was the third straight for Manchester City in their North American tour. It went to the shootout because of the regulations of the World Football Challenge friendly tournament which the match is a part of. Hart stopped an AJ DeLaGarza’s penalty kick then stepped up to take his turn in the shootout after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw in regular time. Galaxy’s Mike Magee scored in the 53rd minute to tie it 1-1, hitting a perfectly place shot from outside the box that Hart couldn’t get to. “They’re a good team, so we knew it would be a good test for us,” City midfielder Milner said. “But that’s what you want for preseason, a good test, good fitness. All-in-all, it was a good game.” Manchester City used their starters for most of the game as the get ready for the upcoming Premier League season

Mario Balotelli we don't need Tevez

Mario Balotelli insists Manchester City have a good enough squad to succeed this season, even if Carlos Tevez does leave the club this summer.The Argentine striker had looked set to move back to South America with Corinthians, but his former club have pulled out because there is not enough time to complete the deal before the close of the Brazilian transfer window.
Balotelli told reporters: "It does not matter if Carlos is here or not."If Carlos is here it's good, while if he goes away I'm sure someone else will arrive."But how I play is all down to me.
"It doesn't matter who else is at Manchester City."Carlos is a great player, so I hope he's going to stay. But I've seen great players leave clubs before."It happened at Inter. This is football.We have a good team here."If a player wants to leave it's his decision but we'll still be a good team."

The Italian striker admits that he could have done better during his first season in England, and believes he will prove his worth this season.
"I thought my first season was so-so," he added.

"I know I can score a lot more. I will show City fans this season what I can do."