Agent: Balotelli too pricey for Serie A

Mario Balotelli’s agent says ‘no teams in Italy’ could afford the Manchester City forward, amid speculation that AC Milan are preparing a bid.

The 22-year-old, who is behind Carlos Tevez, Segio Aguero and Edin Dzeko in Roberto Mancini’s pecking order at City, has been continually linked with a move to the Italian giants, who are struggling in Serie A – sitting in seventh position.

The club’s president, Silvio Berlusconi, has recently suggested that their interest in the Italy international is serious, commenting that signing the controversial attacker ‘is not a dream’ with the January window around the corner.

However, Balotelli’s agent has rubbished talks that his client is set to switch the Etihad Stadium for San Siro in the New Year, indicating he would be too expensive for Italian sides, comparing his value to that of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

“Balotelli costs as much as the Mona Lisa,” Mino Raiola told Sky Sport Italia. “There are no teams in Italy who could afford him.”

Despite the former Inter Milan striker starting just eight games for City this season, his agent said the Premier League outfit are not willing to let their enigmatic forward leave.

“Manchester City don’t want to sell Balotelli,” he said.