Juventus want to bring Balotelli back to Italy in January

Juventus are keen on a deal to bring £25m-rated Man City striker Mario Balotelli back to Italy in January, it has emerged.

The Serie A Champions are desperate to sign a new striker after failing in bids for star forwards Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez, Fernando Llorente and Dimitar Berbatov over the summer.

Juve eventually ended up with the deadline day loan signing of Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner but the Dane arrived in Turin overweight and unfit and is already struggling to force his way into the first team.

It is believed the Italian giants still have money to spend on a top striker and will turn their attentions to Balotelli, valued at over £25m by City, in January.

The 22-year-old looked certain to leave Eastlands this summer, with boss Roberto Mancini claiming he would never play for the club again, after a rash red card in a defeat at Arsenal.

But after talks with the player, who enjoyed a fine Euro 2012 with Italy, Mancini relaxed his stance and has insisted that Balotelli has a big part to play at the Etihad.

Even so, the maverick striker has found himself behind Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko in the pecking order at Eastlands and has agains fallen-foul of Mancini after being caught smoking.

It is thought that the City hierachy are prepared to sell Balotelli if Juve meet their asking price and the former Internazionale forward is believed to be open to a return to Italy.

Source: CaughtOffside