Mancini: Balotelli won’t be sold this month

Manchester: Roberto Mancini has insisted that Mario Balotelli will not leave Manchester City during the current transfer window, but conceded that he is not yet worth a place in the team.

Balotelli was ill for three days following last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium, for which he was an unused substitute

Yet even when Balotelli has recovered he will have to fight to start under Mancini. “Mario should work well and try to get his place in the team because at the moment he doesn’t play for many reasons,” he said. “I hope he can help us to win some trophies because he has the quality. I think his performance is so-so. But he can improve because we have important and crucial games in Premier League and FA Cup and I hope Mario can help us win games.”

Mancini’s comments came on the day the Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli, spoke about Balotelli to the Gazetta dello Sport. “The hope remains the same,” he said, “that Mario decides to finally invest in himself; that he says, ‘OK, now I’ll become the best in the world, I’ll put away the character I’ve become and let only my football do the talking.’”

Milan’s vice-president, Adriano Galliani, has suggested that if City lower their valuation of around 24m Balotelli could be signed. But Mancini dismissed this and any chance of him moving away on loan. “No it is not true, Mario stays here,” he said. “We didn’t have any requests about Mario or other players.” Asked if he is part of Mancini’s long-term plans, the manager said: “Yes. Mario has another three years on his contract.”

The Italian is unsure whether City will add any players during the window. “I don’t know but we don’t have enough players. It is difficult [to bring any in]. We are 18 players now. We can’t sell any players,” he said.