Love this article from the Mirror:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-City-transfer-news-Mario-Balotelli-snubs-Alex-Ferguson-and-Manchester-United-to-join-City-article537819.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Ma ... 37819.html</a>
Balotelli snubs United to join City
Published 23:00 26/07/10 By David Anderson
He may be loathed in Milan, but Mario Balotelli will be loved in the blue half of Manchester after snubbing Sir Alex Ferguson to join City.
And not only did he shun Fergie, sources close to the striker claim he said no to a bigger pay packet at Old Trafford.
Ferguson was quietly working behind the scenes on a move for Balotelli and was prepared to offer him more than the £65,000-a-week he has agreed with Manchester City.
Chelsea also wanted Balotelli and the striker’s decision to join City is a real coup for Roberto Mancini.
Balotelli’s capture will take Mancini’s spending over the £100million mark for this summer, but at least the City boss will save a few bob on the Italian Under-21 star’s wages.
Mancini claims this as proof that Sheikh Mansour’s billions do not make them soft touches in the transfer market.
“There is money to sign everyone, but not to pay them a lot, as some people are saying,” he said.
Mancini was able to sign Balotelli for less than what United were offering because the teenager is so keen to be reunited with his old Inter boss.
Balotelli, 19, regards Mancini as a mentor because he helped bring him through at the San Siro.
Mancini signed him in 2006 as a 16-year-old and handed him his debut four months later when he had just turned 17 in December 2007 as a substitute against Cagliari.
Mancini, who knew where the back of the net was as a player, could see the youngster’s huge potential and in his second appearance three days later, he scored twice against Reggina in the Coppa Italia.
Super Mario, as he is nicknamed, played a cameo role in Inter’s Serie A title success in 2008 and finished his first campaign with seven goals from 15 appearances.
Balotelli was disappointed by Mancini’s departure that summer and lost his way without his guiding hand.
He had a love-hate relationship with Mancini’s successor Jose Mourinho - they both loved to hate each other - and was axed after one bust-up too many.
For all of his problems, Balotelli still managed 20 goals in 59 Serie A games to prove he is one of the hottest young striking talents in the world.
Unlike Mourinho, Mancini feels he knows how to handle the precocious Balotelli and claims he could become a huge star at City.
“He is one of the four or five strikers that interest us,” he said. “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. And I want people like him who are able to build a cycle of success at Manchester City.”
City’s deal maker Brian Marwood has agreed Balotelli’s transfer in principle with Inter and the last missing piece is the fee.
The Blues claim a figure has yet to be agreed, despite claims in Italy that they will pay an initial £25.1million, rising to £29.3million.
Balotelli seems to think that is a formality and held an impromptu leaving party with his friends at Milan’s trendy Van Gogh restaurant on Saturday night where he told everyone he has agreed a five-year deal worth £65,000-a-week.
His pals unveiled a hastily-made banner, which read ‘Even 1000km away, you’ll always be in our hearts’.
His agent Mino Raiola, who has exasperated City in the negotiations, feels this is premature and claimed yesterday that the transfer had not yet been finalised, even though Inter believe it is a done deal.
“Nothing has been signed between Balotelli and Manchester City,” said Raiola.
Despite Raiola’s attempts to talk down the move, it seems only a matter of time before Balotelli joins Mancini’s blue revolution.
And, ironically, he could make his City debut against Inter in Baltimore on Saturday.
