After months of speculations, Italian striker Mario Balotelli is set to leave Manchester City to get a place in AC Milan. Reportedly, City has finalized a deal with AC Milan for the striker at an annual salary of 4.5 million euros for a four-and-a-half year term until 2017. It is an interesting comeback for the Italian striker coz he was shifted to the Manchester City from Milan back in 2010 at £22 million, but his spell at City never brings any glory for the English club, perhaps he always remained in the news for wrong reasons, and now he is back to his old club at an almost equal amount that Milan earlier paid for him. According to the agreed deal, Milan will pay City 4 million euros every year for next five years along with a 3 million euro in bonus. Consequently, Balotelli will be back to his home once all formalities are completed, including his medical. City manager Roberto Mancini issued a statement over his transfer that reads as, “For two years it’s always the question. It’s not true. Mario’s staying here. We haven’t had any requests about Mario or any other player. Mario has another three years on his contract. We don’t have enough players, we are 18 players now and we can’t sell any players.”
Actually, his transfer news was long in circulation, the only point of difference was the asking price by City which was not in Milan’s acceptance. Initially, City wanted over 30 million euros for him, but eventually settled for 20 million. Despite a reduced consideration, City would have been a happy side by getting rid of a notorious player who has always been found stuck with a controversy as long he remained with them. Perhaps, he was also once found clashing on the training ground with none other than City manager. Even after all this, City has earlier issued a statement where they refused to sell him, but this time it was probably player’s demand to leave him.
Balotelli has had a descent career playing for Italian national team where he scored three times in Euro 2012. Moreover, playing for City, he could not show his brilliance and only find the net once in his 14 premier league appearances for the English club. His performance has been similar in League Cup and Champions League making him one of the costlier surpluses for the City.