Mancini expects Balotelli deal soon

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted Mario Balotelli's long-term future is at Eastlands as the striker himself denied rumours of a move back to Italy with AC Milan.Balotelli, 20, scored a hat-trick as City overcame Aston Villa 4-0 on Tuesday to maintain their bid for the Premier League title.The Italian striker has rarely been out of the headlines since arriving from European champions Inter Milan in a 24 million pounds (37 million dollars) pre-season move.

Star teenage Italian forward Mario Balotelli's agent on Monday denied that his client has signed a deal with Manchester City.Earlier reports in the Italian press claimed the 19-year-old Inter Milan striker had already agreed a contract with the English Premier League side and that all that was missing was an agreement between the two clubs.But his agent Mino Raiola told Ansa news agency: "Nothing has been signed between Balotelli and Manchester City and I doubt anything will be in the next few days."

Mario Balotelli has ordered a life-sized statue of himself to keep in his Brescia home. The Milan striker, who was on Tuesday fined €10,000 (£8,600) for making an "insulting gesture" towards Internazionale supporters at the end of the derby on Sunday, has contacted a local artist to make the statue, in order to "immortalize" himself.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists that Mario Balotelli has a big future at Eastlands despite his recent poor behaviour.Since joining City from Inter Milan last year, Balotelli has been the subject of several unsavoury headlines relating to his personal life and his conduct both on and off the pitch at City.His latest misdemeanour involved him being caught throwing darts at members of City's junior sides at the club's Carrington training base.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will appeal against the dismissal of Mario Balotelli as he prepares to face bitter rivals Manchester United this week.Mancini watched Balotelli make a rapid transformation from hero to zero after the Italian finally lifting the pressure on his compatriot with a double-strike in Sunday's 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.Balotelli helped City to their first win in four matches before the striker was given a straight red card in the second half for a reckless kick at Youssouf Mulumbu, who was also later sent off.

Yesterday's rivalry game between AC Milan and Inter Milan was marred by racial abuse directed at striker Mario Balotelli. Inter fans had inflatable bananas and whistled whenever he got the ball, the AP reports. Fans also directed laser pointers at him, as this Getty Image shows:

Aston Villa midfielder James Milner has been named in his club's squad for Saturday's clash against West Ham even though he is close to joining Manchester City.Milner could be a City player by next week after Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini revealed a deal was close.The England international has not featured in any of Villa's pre-season matches. But caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald, in charge since Martin O'Neill quit earlier this week, has decided to include Milner in his group for the Premier League opener against the Hammers at Villa Park.

Roberto Mancini's reign as Manchester City manager began on a winning note on Saturday but it was another frustrating day for his fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti as Premier League leaders Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham.City's first match since Mancini's controversial replacement of Mark Hughes ended in a 2-0 win over Stoke that lifted the Abu Dhabi-backed club back to within three points of the top four place targeted by their new Italian manager.