Source: Team_Talk
City complete Balotelli capture
Manchester City have confirmed the signing of striker Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan on a five-year deal.[LNB] The Eastlands outfit have been pursuing Balotelli for much of the summer and have finally landed him after agreeing an undisclosed fee with Inter thought to be around £24million.[LNB]The combustible forward will not be available for tomorrow's opening Premier League clash with Tottenham, but could make his debut in the home encounter with Liverpool on August 23.[LNB]Boss Roberto Mancini has predicted Balotelli will become an instant Premier League hit and he is convinced the player's muscular style is perfectly suited to the English game.[LNB]"Mario is one of the best players of his age in Europe, and I very happy to be working with him again," Mancini told the club's website.[LNB]"His style of play will suit the Premier League, and because he is still so young there is a big chance for him to improve.[LNB]"He is a strong and exciting player, and City fans will enjoy watching him."[LNB]He follows Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure, Aleksander Kolarov and David Silva into Eastlands and is one of the major reasons why Mancini has been so happy to discard Craig Bellamy.[LNB]City are also hopeful of tying up the transfer of England star James Milner, although with Stephen Ireland's demands for compensation still needing to be sorted out before the midfielder agrees to join Aston Villa, Mancini has already admitted it will be next week before his final planned acquisition reaches a positive conclusion.[LNB]Balotelli admits he is leaving Inter with regret, but felt he had no choice following a difficult year.[LNB]"Soon I'll be starting on a new adventure," he wrote on his website. "I'm sorry that I'm leaving Inter and Italy because I would have preferred to continue my professional career in my own country.[LNB]"I'm going where I hope to find the space I need to play which is very important to me: I need to play, to make mistakes, to learn and to play again. As well as a calm environment around me.[LNB]"It's been a difficult year. I've recognised my mistakes, but I think I've often been under pressure and on the receiving end of criticism that at times has irritated me.[LNB]"Now all I'm thinking about is playing well for my new club and in the Premier League. I really want to give it my best try![LNB]"I'd like to thank my family, who have supported me with so much patience and affection, through both the good times and the difficult periods.[LNB]"I also want to thank club chairman Moratti, the team I've shared so many victories with, the fans who've supported me, my entourage and my friends."
