Mario Balotelli's agent claims the striker could extend his Man City contract after saying it will not be easy for him to return to Serie A.
Agent suggests striker could extend his contract at Man City
Mario Balotelli's agent has claimed the striker could extend his Manchester City contract after admitting it will not be easy for him to return to Serie A.
The 21-year-old joined City in a big-money move from Inter Milan in 2010 and struggled to make a sustained impact during his debut season in England.
However, while continuing to attract plenty of headlines for his off-field behaviour, Balotelli has appeared more at home on the pitch this term and is into double figures for goals.
He has often been linked with move back to Italy, with the likes of former club Inter, AC Milan and Napoli rumoured to be interested in signing the gifted forward.
Balotelli recently admitted he has no plans to leave the Etihad Stadium and his representative Mino Raiola could envisage the Italy international prolonging his time with the Premier League leaders.
Top of the class
"He is well in Manchester and perhaps he'll extend his contract," Raiola told
La Nazione.
"My feeling is that it won't be easy for him to return to Serie A. He is too 'big' for Italy, in every sense.
"Mario has to go back as the top of the class. Whoever wants him has to bet everything on him, and welcome him like (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Lionel) Messi or (Samuel) Eto'o.
"But then I say, if Inter and AC Milan have difficulties in finding €30million (£24.8m) to invest on (Carlos) Tevez, how can they pay €60m (£49.5m) or €70m (£57.8m) for Balotelli?
"This is the value of Balotelli, he's the No.1. He will become one of the strongest in the world. City will never give him away."
