AC Milan have kept a keen eye on Mario Balotelli’s situation at the Etihad since the summer and reports from Italy suggest they are ready to meet Manchester City’s asking price of £20 million.
With Balotelli out of form and once again causing rifts at City, the axe is beckoning for the controversial 22-year-old who was swiftly withdrawn from the action after another lacklustre display in the weekend’s Manchester derby.
With Milan performing very poorly in the league this season due to the lack of strikers, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic left for PSG in the summer, Balotelli would be an interesting addition to their squad.
Roberto Mancini has had a love-hate relationship with Mario since his £24 million move from Inter Milan. Balotelli has said to the press constantly that he praises the work of Mancini, however this doesn't seem to come across on the pitch.
Balotelli is not for sale," Mancini told Sky Sport Italia. "Mario is a City
player, he is loved by the fans and the management. He has been an important
player for us.
"A player of his quality should think exclusively to his
work and his family, he has talent and he cannot blow it as he is doing. Our
paths may separate if I change team, but he will remain at City."
The City boss is set to have talks with the director of football at Manchester City about whether they should sell Mario or not. Mancini said in the aftermath of the defeat to rivals United that he expects more from Balotelli.
With City hoping to bring in Falcao from Atletico Madrid, the loss of one striker would pave the way for the Colombian.
However Balotelli's agent has said otherwise, claiming that player will stay at City throughout the January transfer window. Time will tell but one thing is for sure, Mancini’s patience is wearing thin.
Source: DSG
