Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that he would like to sign Mario Balotelli, but does not expect a quick resolution to the saga.
Balotelli, 19, has been linked with a £24million move to Eastlands with Gazzetta dello Sport claiming the player has held a farewell party in Milan.
Mancini confirmed that Balotelli is very much on his wanted list, but suggested that talk of a deal being completed 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.”
Balotelli’s agent has also denied suggestions that the player has already signed a contract with City.
“There has been no signature between Balotelli and City, and I doubt that an agreement will be reached in the next few days,” Mino Raiola told ANSA.it.
