• Premier League

Mancini admits he wants Balotelli

ESPN Soccernet staff
July 26, 2010
Mario Balotelli would cost close to £30 million © Getty Images
Enlarge

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has reiterated his desire to sign Mario Balotelli, but does not expect a quick conclusion to the saga.

Balotelli, 19, appears certain to move to Eastlands ahead of reported interest from Manchester United for a reported fee of £24 million, rising to £29 million with add-ons. He will pen a five-year contract on wages of £65,000-a-week.

Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed that Balotelli held a goodbye party in Milan over the weekend before flying out to the United States with Inter for their pre-season tour on Sunday - where they will play Manchester City in Baltimore, which could be the striker's debut in City colours.

Mancini confirmed that Balotelli is very much on his wanted list, but suggested that talk of a deal being concluded in the next couple of days was wide of the mark.

"There is money to sign everyone, but not to pay them a lot, as some people are saying," he told La Stampa. "He (Balotelli) is one of the four or five strikers that interest us. I was the first to believe in him and I'm convinced about what he can do.

"Mario has two qualities that suit us, his talent and his age, because I want people able to build a cycle at Manchester City. But we come back to the problem of the valuation, which must be resolved. I think in about ten days certain situations will be clearer."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices