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Mancini: Balotelli will 101% stay at Manchester City
May 15, 2012 11:50:00 AM
The Italian manager insists his controversial striker will be with the club after the summer, and believes divine intervention helped them win against QPR on Sunday
Roberto Mancini has stated that Mario Balotelli will not be leaving Manchester City in the summer despite rumoured interest in AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The controversial striker has pushed the limits of his manager's patience at times this season, but the former Inter Milan player has made vital contributions to City’s title success along the way.
Balotelli has already stated that his future is with the Manchester side – with his agent further implying that the attacker is not for sale – and Mancini has mirrored those sentiments.
"Mario was clear, I also will be: Balotelli will 101 per cent stay at Man City. Balotelli was decisive in his 15 minutes versus QPR. I'm sure he will have a great Euro 2012," Mancini told reporters.
"I hope he will be Italy leader because he is the best Italian striker. He just needs to use his brain, it's his only problem."
The 45-year-old coach did, however, mention Swedish striker Ibrahimovic and Milan's reluctance to sell the player, but insists that the club have not been thinking about transfers towards the end of the season.
"Ibra is a great player, but I don't think Milan want to sell him. I'm honest, we still didn't speak about transfers at City [towards the end of the season]. We just thought about the championship."
The former Inter coach insists divine intervention intervened during City’s 3-2 win over QPR and believes the draw with Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium was the “key moment” of the season.
"It was a miracle. God took a look to our match and helped us.
"The key moment of the season was the 3-3 versus Sunderland, the only match we didn't win at home. It was a character lesson, thanks to Balotelli and Kolarov for their goals."
"We deserved the title. We scored more than all others, we played the best football and we won two times versus United.
"I congratulate Ferguson because they wanted the title until the last second. I think the Premier League is the best league in the world. Here all teams always play hard and honestly.”
"Man City started a new era, but we need more to win the Champions League. This year’s lesson will be useful, we need time, patience and experience."| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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