Balotelli wants to stay, insists agent

Mario Balotelli's agent has claimed the controversial striker wants to see out his contract at Manchester City, despite recent troubles that has seen manager Roberto Mancini leave him out of the matchday squad.

Mino Raiola, agent and close adviser to the 22-year-old Italy striker, said that Balotelli is determined to stay at the club until his contract expires in June 2015 and re-establish himself in the first team.

City manager Mancini rejected a £40million bid from Paris Saint-German this summer but has become increasingly frustrated by his performances and work ethic in training and AC Milan are reported to be ready to offer Balotelli a return to Italy in January.

But his agent said: 'There’s no Italy and no plans to go there. He’ll work until the end of his contract. He doesn’t want to leave.'

Mancini dropped Balotelli from the matchday squad altogether before City’s last-minute 2-1 victory over Tottenham and Raiola added: 'There’s no player happy with not playing in a game but he accepts it.

'It’s all part of the game. It doesn’t mean he wants to leave Manchester.'

The emergence of Edin Dzeko as a super sub at the Etihad has pushed Balotelli down the pecking order at the club.

The Italian is yet to score in the Premier League for City in this campaign, and his only goal in open play came in a defeat by Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup.

But it is understood that Mancini wants to see a dramatic improvement from the striker whose impact on the pitch – just two goals in 13 appearances this season – no longer justifies the distraction he causes.

Balotelli was spotted partying by City fans the night before the Spurs game.

He was seen entering the Panacea Restaurant and Bar in Alderley Edge at 1am — with City kicking off at 1.30pm against Spurs that afternoon.

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Balotelli had already been axed from the City squad the previous day and told he was not required at the team hotel that night.

Although Balotelli had not officially broken any rules by being out as he was not in the squad, the latest indiscretion has not gone down well.

City's new director of football Txiki Begiristain is believed to be open to selling Balotelli, and has told Mancini that he must offload players before adding to his squad in January.

Mancini wants to sign Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao and has reportedly already met the player's representative, Jorge Mendes, to discuss a £46m bid.

The problem could be finding any takers for a player who would cost in the region of £20million and earns nearly £100,000-a-week.

Both Milan clubs are interested in taking Balotelli back to Italy, and the player is keen to be nearer his hometown of Brescia with girlfriend Raffaella Fico expected to give birth to their first child over Christmas.

However, it is unlikely that AC Milan could afford him and they are not interested in any swap deal involving their rising star Stephan El Shaarawy.

Inter, who sold Balotelli to City for £24m in the summer of 2010, are a more realistic option but would be unlikely to take him in January.

They already have a problem player in Antonio Cassano and are concerned about the effect signing Balotelli in mid-season would have on their dressing-room.

Paris Saint-Germain, who had a bid rejected in the summer, may revive their interest but the player is known to prefer Italy.

He still hopes to salvage his City career despite a demotion to fourth-choice striker behind Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Dzeko.

In an interview with Time Magazine earlier this month, Balotelli once again spoke of his special relationship with Mancini who brought him through the ranks at Inter.

'My relationship with Mancini is really important,' he said. 'He's known me since I was young and he's like a father to me.

'I used to play with the young children at Inter Milan, so I know him very well and I can tell him anything.'

City won in Balotelli's absence on Sunday with Dzeko's late strike clinching a 2-1 comeback victory over Spurs.

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Source: DailyMail