Balotelli: "No comeback for Real"

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli has put his girlfriend 'into play', making a remarkable offer to the Real Madrid players that he will let Fanny Neguesha sleep with them if they are able to comeback in their Champions League semi-final tie against Dortmund, where they trail 4-1 from the first leg.

"If Real Madrid come back against Dortmund and get through to the Champions League final I'll let my girlfriend sleep with all of them", said Balotelli.

So far Miss Neguesha has not offered an opinion on whether she is keen to take up the rather bizarre offer. It's also not clear what the Real Madrid's players' current wives and girlfriends would make of it if any of the players decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

Montolivo labels Balotelli a "superstar"

Ricardo Montolivo has hailed Mario Balotelli as a "superstar" following his brace in Italy's 2-0 win over Malta on Tuesday.

The AC Milan forward grabbed both goals for Cesare Prandelli's side and Balotelli's club teammate Montolivo praised the ability of the former Manchester City man after the game.



"Malta were clammed up and it was tough to find spaces. Luckily we had that superstar in attack and he sorted it out for us," Montolivo told reporters.



"I think Mario has become fully aware of his abilities and has learned not to fall into the trap of provocation. He has had a remarkable impact on Milan too and I hope he won't stop.



"Balotelli is a centre-forward and is therefore the leading point of the attack. We can even give him the ball badly, as he is so physically strong that he can hold off defenders and find space. Right now, he is a complete player."



Balotelli has scored 10 goals for club and country since moving back to Serie A in January.

Balotelli out due to bruised leg

Mario Balotelli will miss AC Milan's Serie A match with Lazio on Saturday (1945 GMT) after picking up a knee injury in the Milan derby, club manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday.

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"Balotelli won't play against Lazio, he has internal bruising and he isn't available," Allegri told Milan's official TV station Milan Channel. "He's been out of action for a week and can't play."



Allegri later told reporters that the striker was "99.9 per cent" certain to not play.

Manchester City hit man wants to join Balotelli

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has praised his former Inter Milan teammate Mario Balotelli profusely and has claimed that the Italian wants to link up with him at Paris St. Germain.



The striker who recently scored a wonder goal against England in an international friendly spoke to the Italian media, saying that Balotelli, “is a player with great talent and, given his age and has a huge potential. He may be one of the best strikers in the world. He has matured a lot and I think he wants me to play with me again, now at PSG.”



Balotelli is facing a great deal of pressure at Manchester City and seems to be 4th in the pecking order with his consistent lack of professionalism further creating problems between him and City boss Roberto Mancini. The former Inter Milan forward has made just 5 starts this season and he may find himself making a move in January if PSG are able to place a strong bid on the table.



The Italian has scored just 2 goals for his club this season and has failed to make a telling impact on his team’s fortunes, unlike super sub Edin Dzeko. With the likes of AC Milan and Inter Milan also allegedly keen to sign Balotelli, we may well see him the Champions in January.

Mancini - Balotelli can be as good as Cristiano or Messi

Roberto Mancini claims Manchester City's Mario Balotelli can be as good as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi - if he could only keep his focus.

City boss Mancini left Balotelli out of the squad to face Tottenham earlier this month because of what he felt was a poor attitude in training.



That sparked fresh speculation the 22-year-old could leave City but Mancini insisted he has no intention of selling his former Inter Milan protege and has now urged him to focus fully on his football.



The rewards for that, he believes, could elevate him to the level of the world's best players.



Mancini said: "Mario, outside the pitch, is a fantastic guy.





"Sometimes he doesn't understand which is your job, and how his job is important for his life, but I hope for him that he can understand this quickly.



"Now he is 22 but life can go quickly and I hope he can improve everything because as a player he could be like Cristiano and Messi, if he understands that to be like this you should work hard, your mind should be always on your job, not on the other things that are not important. I am very sorry for him for this.



"He has everything to be one of the best players in the world."



Balotelli was spotted in a nightclub in the early hours of the morning prior to the November 11 Spurs game, although no curfew was broken as Mancini had already informed him he would not be playing.



Mancini has remained fiercely loyal to Balotelli throughout his near two-and-a-half years at City despite a number of controversial incidents on and off the field.



The 47-year-old hopes he can oversee Balotelli's development into the player he believes he should be.



Mancini added of his fellow Italian: "It is not too easy to work with him every day because if you are a manager, you should manage 22 players.



"This is difficult sometimes but I hope he can change his mind."

Penalty taker specialist 

A back injury sustained on recent international duty prevented Balotelli from returning to the side in Saturday's 5-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa.



He remains doubtful for Wednesday Champions League clash against Ronaldo's Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium but has trained.



Mancini said: "Yesterday he trained with the physio and tomorrow and today he will train with the team and we will see if he can play."

International round-up

Bafetimbi Gomis's second-half winner helped France clinch a 2-1 friendly victory against hosts Italy.

Two other European heavyweights, Netherlands and Germany, went head-to-head, but nothing could separate the bitter rivals in a goalless stalemate.

Montenegro moved top of England's World Cup qualifying group with a comfortable 3-0 victory against minnows San Marino.

And former England boss Fabio Capello watched his Russia side draw 2-2 against visitors USA in a friendly.

French end It

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli hit the crossbar for Italy with a long-range shot in the 10th minute before highly rated AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawi, who has scored eight Serie A goals this term, transferred his impressive form to the international stage by netting the opener in Parma.

The Azzurri's lead lasted barely two minutes, though, as Mathieu Vabuena equalised for France before Gomis converted Patrice Evra's pass.

Both Netherlands and Germany were missing key players for their clash in Amsterdam - and it resulted in a tame match with few chances.

Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus could have snatched an injury-time winner for the Germans, but blasted his shot over the bar.

Elsad Zverotic's second-half strike sealed Montenegro's win againstSan Marino after Andrija Delibasic netted a first-half brace.

Montenegro have earned 10 points from four Group H games, with second-placed England on eight after four matches.



Capello, who took over as Russia boss in the summer, extended his unbeaten run at the helm to six matches with the draw againstUSA.

Fedor Smolov and Roman Shirokov netted for the home side, but their strikes were cancelled out by American pair Michael Bradley and Mikkel Deskerud.

Argentina fielded Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria in their trip toSaudi Arabia - but the South Americans were still unable to break down their hosts in a goalless stalemate.

The match saw Messi reunited with Saudi boss Frank Rijkaard - the man who gave him his break in the Barcelona first team.

World and European champions Spain thrashed Panama 5-1 after goals from Pedro (2), David Villa, Sergio Ramos and Markel Susaeta.


Elsewhere, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez netted Uruguay's third as they won 3-1 in Poland, while ex-Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba scored inIvory Coast's 3-0 win against hosts Austria.

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke put Belgium ahead in Romania,before the hosts turned the game around to win 2-1.

Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner, currently on loan at Juventus, putDenmark ahead from the spot in their 1-1 draw again

El Shaarawy keen to link up with Balotelli

Italy's Stephan El Shaarawy is hoping to forge a strong international partnership with Manchester City ace Mario Balotelli



The pair is part of Italy's squad for their friendly against France in Parma on Wednesday.



AC Milan's El Shaarawy is the joint leading goalscorer in Serie A, with eight goals, and is aiming to replicate his domestic form at international level.



"I am at the complete disposal of the coach (Cesare Prandell)," El Shaaraway told reporters.



"At Milan I have learned how to alternate attacking and defensive phases. I hope to do well with Balotelli. Prandelli has given me all of his instructions and now I have to prove my quality."



France boss Didier Deschamps has also spoken ahead of the clash and remains uncertain what approach Italy will adopt, while stressing the importance of getting a result.



"When you take on a team like Italy, who are one of the best in the world, there are always special expectations and it requires a particular level of concentration," he said.



"I don't know exactly what to expect from Italy. In terms of systems they can adapt with a three-man defence or a 4-3-3. I'm certain Cesare Prandelli will choose a very attacking side.



"It is a friendly, but the result is always important."

Balotelli undergone successful Lasik eye surgery

Italy and Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has undergone successful Lasik eye surgery.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Balotelli had the procedure Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, to avoid having photographers and reporters waiting for him outside the laser surgery clinic in his hometown of Brescia.



Balotelli needs to rest now for 10 days. He is sitting out Italy's opening two World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta, and is questionable for Manchester City's Champions League opener against Real Madrid on Sept. 18.



Balotelli is near-sighted and has worn contact lenses for years but the lenses have caused allergies recently and an abscess that led to conjunctivitis, which ruled him out of Italy's friendly with England last month.