Milan giants rule out swap deal for Super Mario

He certainly hasn't looked happy this season (even by his standards), but it appears that Mario Balotelli will not be granted his move away from Manchester City just yet.

SKY Sports have today reported that AC Milan have rejected the possibility of swapping their own flaky young striker, Alexandre Pato, for the brooding Balotelli.

Pato, who was once compared by football luminaries as the next Romario, has struggled to make an impact at the San Siro since his move there in 2008 mostly due to a succession of debilitating injuries. However, it appears the Milan hierarchy, having finally got shot of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's temperamental qualities, have decided against Balotelli for the time being.

The Italian striker is said to not be hugely keen on a move away from the Etihad where he wishes to somehow prove himself as a world class footballer and more than just "Ladotelli", but a move to Milan, who he regards as his boyhood club despite his past as an Inter player, would certainly be of interest to the man.

Certainly, it would prove to be an ironic move for the Serie A giants, as Balotelli was of course one of the replacements for Robinho at Manchester City, the same Robinho who currently lines up as Milan's premier striker following the departure of Ibrahimovic.

Adam Mazrani