Inter president Massimo Moratti has revealed that Mario Balotelli is not ”indispensable” and has yet to prove himself fully at the European champions, as the striker looks set to seal a move to Manchester City.
Balotelli is still in negotiations with City over a £24 million move and he is believed to be keen to be reunited with former boss Roberto Mancini.
When asked if he viewed Balotelli exit as a personal failure, Moratti told Sky Italia: “He could be, I don’t know. We’ll see if Balotelli’s departure will be a defeat, you can consider it how you want.
“There is Coutinho who is another youngster. The bet continues. Everyone is right about Balotelli, he is a talent, who in my opinion, has yet to express himself 100%, but this talent, in this moment, doesn’t seem so indispensable.
“We have important offers and objectives of an economic character, so you make a sacrifice with the player who everyone wants, not with the one who you try to sell and no one wants.
“Balotelli remains a great talent, but for us it’s almost an obligation to exit in this way. I definitely had a good relationship with him, then again I don’t know what he’ll say about that.”
Balotelli was reported to have had a bust-up with team-mates after their win over Barcelona in the 2009-10 Champions League semi-finals.
When asked if Inter’s dressing room had played any part in his decision to sell Balotelli, Moratti said: “It will certainly have influenced it. He wasn’t very happy at certain moments as weren’t the others, but the victories meant that everything was forgiven, also because there was respect for a professional who plays well. That doesn’t take away from the fact that he felt a little less part of the group.”