Mario Balotelli Transfer Rumours: Latest News on the Man City Star

Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli is one of the most controversial players in world football today. 

It looks as if his time with defending English Premier League champions Manchester City is coming to an end after his recent exploits on the pitch this season. 

Balotelli has made 19 appearances in three different competitions for City this season and has only scored three goals. 

The Italian forward made it on to the pitch for City's match against Watford in the third round of the FA Cup, but it was only a 20-minute appearance in the second half as a substitute after the match was decided. 

The appearance against Watford was Balotelli's first in over a month, his last on-pitch appearance came in the Manchester derby on December 9. 

Here are all the latest reports about where the Manchester City forward will end up during the January transfer window. 

-Updated January 29, 12:30 p.m. ET-

City, AC Milan Agree on Balotelli Deal

After a month full of speculation surrounding the move of Mario Balotelli to AC Milan, it looks as though a deal has been finalized. 

Sky Sports reported on Tuesday that Balotelli agreed to a contract with the Rossoneri. 

Balotelli will now join up with Stephan El Shaarawy in one of the best attacks in Serie A. 

The last time Balotelli graced the pitches of England with his presence was on January 13 when he played one minute as a substitute against Arsenal. 

Juventus Enter the Race for Balotelli

Just as AC Milan were considered to be the only club interested in Mario Balotelli, Juventus have come out of nowhere and into the race to sign the Italian forward. 

Sky Sports reported on Monday night that both Juventus and AC Milan were in negotiations with Manchester City over a potential Balotelli transfer.  

If Balotelli were to join Juventus, he would join an attack that already includes forwards like Fabio Quagliarella, Mirko Vucinic and Sebastian Giovinco. 

With the entrance of Juventus into the Balotelli sweepstakes, expect the final three days of the January transfer window to be filled with news about the 22-year-old forward. 

David Platt Claims There Is No Balotelli Deal

After his farewell party on Sunday night, Mario Balotelli showed up at Manchester City's training ground for training on Monday. 

City coach David Platt claimed that Balotelli was going nowhere and that a move to AC Milan was not a possibility. 

Here are just a few quotes from the Mirror report about Platt's comments on Balotelli. 

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"I've not heard anything and to be honest it just seems like speculation."

"As far as we are concerned, he's still a Manchester City player. I don't think there's anything that could happen."

-David Platt via The Mirror, January 28, 2013

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Balotelli Throws Farewell Party Ahead of Milan Move

It was reported by The Sun on Monday that Mario Balotelli had a going away party at his house in Manchester this weekend. 

At that party, Balotelli revealed that he was off to play at the San Siro for AC Milan. 

Also mentioned in the report from Monday was the possibility that Kevin-Prince Boateng could swap AC Milan for Manchester City as a part of the Balotelli deal. 

Man City Yet to Talk with Milan, Kaka Could Play Role in Balotelli Transfer

On Monday, The Guardian claimed that Manchester City have yet to meet with AC Milan over the possible transfer of Balotelli. 

Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola was quoted in the report by saying

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"There are no talks now between Balotelli and Milan." 

-Mino Raiola via The Guardian; January 21, 2013

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Another potential factor in the Balotelli transfer could be the reported move of Kaka back to AC Milan from Real Madrid. 

Since the potential move of Kaka to AC Milan became a possibility, the Rossoneri have made a deal for the Brazilian a priority.

There is a possibility that Kaka and Balotelli could both join Milan before the transfer window closes, but we may not find that out until January 31. 

City, AC Milan Disagree on Balotelli's Value

Over the weekend, it was reported by The Sun that Manchester City and AC Milan are at crossroads when it comes to the transfer fee of Balotelli. 

The report also mentions that Balotelli has begun to send his possessions back to Italy from his home in Cheshire. 

The reported moving of his possessions back to Italy is yet another move by Balotelli that fuels the speculation of his departure from the Etihad Stadium 

Prandelli Urges Balotelli to Take Advantage of Mancini

With all the transfer speculation swirling around Mario Balotelli at the moment, his national team manager, Cesare Prandelli, has suggested to the Italian forward that he should take advantage of his manager at the club level, Roberto Mancini.

Mancini has come out in the press on numerous occasions to back the controversial forward this season.

In a recent ESPN article, Prandelli had a few quotes to describe the relationship between Mancini and Balotelli. 

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"Mancini is the only manager, the only person who can actually make Mario grow. And Mario has to listen to Mancini only."

-Cesare Prandelli, via ESPN, January 15, 2013

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It seems as if every one surrounding the game of football has an opinion on the Balotelli situation, but the one of the Italian national team manager is an opinion that Balotelli should listen to closely.

Berlusconi Claims Mario Balotelli Is Not a Target of AC Milan

On the same day where AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi reportedly apologized for his "rotten apple" comments last week, he claimed that Mario Balotelli is not a target of the club (via Daily Mail).

The Guardian quoted Berlusconi's recent remarks to Sky Italia on Tuesday: 

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"Could he still come to Milan? No one from my club has held any talks with him, and neither Galliani nor I has identified him as a transfer target."

-Silvio Berlusconi, January 15, 2013.

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With two more weeks left for the Rossoneri to make a move for Balotelli, a lot can change, but as of now it looks like Balotelli will not be headed to the San Siro. 

For more transfer updates stay tuned during the week here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter,@JTansey90. 

City Willing to Sell Balotelli

After a week of name-calling and hair dying, some serious news broke in the Mario Balotelli transfer saga on Friday.

The Guardian reported on Friday that Manchester City are willing to sell the newly-blonde Italian forward to AC Milan for 30 million euros. 

If AC Milan were to match that valuation, he could be sold to the Serie A club to help them reach the top three positions in the league table, which will enable them to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. 

Balotelli would be a welcome addition to the AC Milan attack, which already includes Stephan El Shaarawy, who has scored the second-most goals in Serie A this season with 14. 

For more transfer updates stay tuned during the week here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter,@JTansey90. 

Inter Claim They Have First Option on Balotelli

Balotelli's former club, Inter Milan, claimed this week that they have the right to first refusal on the forward. 

According to Sky Sports, there was a clause put in Balotelli's contract when he signed at Manchester City from Inter in 2010 that gave the Nerazzurri the first refusal rights on a potential move back to Italy by Balotelli. 

Whether or not the first refusal rights will be used by Inter is still to be seen, but it is something that adds more drama to the Balotelli transfer saga, especially if the Italian wants to move to Inter's rivals AC Milan. 

Balotelli Wanted at Napoli to Partner with Edinson Cavani

Just a day after Edinson Cavani netted a hat-trick for Napoli against Roma, the club's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, said that he wants Balotelli to move to the San Paolo Stadium to partner with Cavani (via Daily Mail). 

Napoli has been using Goran Pandev up front alongside Cavani in the 3-4-1-2 formation that the club employs on a weekly basis. 

The other strong attacking option in the Napoli lineup is Marek Hamsik, who is in second place on the club's goal list with seven goals.

For the record, Cavani has 16 goals this season, which would be 15 more than Balotelli has with Manchester City in the EPL this season. 

For more transfer updates stay tuned during the week here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter,@JTansey90. 

AC Milan Owner Calls Balotelli a "Rotten Apple"

Amongst the latest controversy surrounding Balotelli is the latest statement made by AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.

Berlusconi was asked about the potential move of Balotelli to the San Siro from Manchester City and he replied by calling the forward a "rotten apple". 

According to The Telegraph, this is the full quote from the AC Milan owner about Balotelli. 

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"The name of Balotelli never came into my thoughts", said Berlusconi who last year served a prison sentence for tax evasion. "He is a rotten apple and could infect every group where he goes, even Milan."

-Silvio Berlusconi, via the Telegraph, January 8, 2013. 

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While AC Milan's owner has ruled his club out of the race for Balotelli's signature, another owner in Serie A wants Balotelli at his club. 

Balotelli and Roberto Mancini in Physical Altercation at Training Ground

As if his reputation was not bad enough, Mario Balotelli added to his list of controversial incidents on Thursday when he got into a physical altercation with manager Roberto Mancini at City's training ground.

BBC Sport obtained a photo of the altercation that occurred at the club's Carrington training ground.

It is not known at the moment why the two went at each other, but it does mean that Balotelli probably will not be seeing his name in the City starting 11 anytime soon.

As for his potential transfer, this incident may cause City owner Sheikh Mansour to rethink his profound love for Balotelli.

The last thing that City needs is a player trying to do everything it takes to cause trouble at the club in the middle of an already tumultuous season.

For more transfer updates stay tuned during the week here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter,@JTansey90. 

Manchester City Owner Wants Balotelli to Stay with Club

Just as all of the transfer rumors began to swirl this week, The Sun reported that Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour is a big fan of Mario Balotelli and that he wants the Italian to stay at the club. 

Manager Roberto Mancini was quoted in the article by saying: 

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“Sheikh Mansour likes Balotelli because he recognises the talent and he exports the name of City over the world."

- Roberto Mancini; The Sun; January 1, 2013.

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It seems like the controversial forward has the backing of the owner at this point, but if Balotelli does not perform on the pitch before January ends, the Italian could be on his way out of the Etihad Stadium.

For more transfer updates stay tuned during the week here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

Inter Milan Deny Interest in Bringing Back Balotelli

Over the past two months, Balotelli's former club, Inter Milan, have been linked with bringing back the Italian to the club.

Back in November, The Mirror claimed that Inter had interest in taking Balotelli back from Manchester City.

Just two weeks later, Sky Sports reported that Inter did not want the forward back at the club.

The Nerazurri may not have the funds to bring in Balotelli at the moment, but if they sell Wesley Sneijder in January, money could become available. 

Sneijder has been linked with moves to plenty of EPL clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham. 

AC Milan Reportedly Clearing Roster Space to Make Room for Balotelli

Serie A giants AC Milan are reportedly clearing space at the forward position on their roster to bring Mario Balotelli back to Italy. 

The Daily Mail suggests that AC Milan will let both Alexandre Pato and Robinho leave the club in January to fund the move for Balotelli. 

Earlier this week, ESPN confirmed that Pato would make a move back to Brazil and join Corinthians.

As for Robinho, Goal.com is reporting that he could also be shipped off to Brazil to play for Santos, a team that is always in the news during the transfer window because of their Brazilian superstar, Neymar. 

If the Brazilian duo were to leave the San Siro, it would leave the Rossoneri with just three true goal scorers in Stephan El Shaarawy, Bojan, and Giampaolo Pazzini. 

For more transfer updates stay tuned during the week here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter,@JTansey90.