Mario Balotelli

Manchester City new boy Mario Balotelli is set to have knee surgery that will keep him out for around 6 weeks.

Balotelli hasn’t played since scoring on his debut against Timisoara in the Europa League.

A statement released by Manchester City said “The Italian’s injury is to the lateral meniscus, one of the two most crucial structures in the knee, and medical wisdom is to try and encourage the problem to heal without recourse to an operation,”

“It was hoped that the symptoms would settle down but once Balotelli began to step up his recovery programme this week, it became clear that action would need to be taken.”

Mario Balotelli looks set to miss his 3rd Manchester City game on the trot after receiving latest tests on his knee injury. If Mario was to miss the game, it would delay his home debut.

The Physios are seemingly pessimistic about featuring in the Blackburn game. If Mario is rushed back too soon then this may cause complications, especially with it being a long season.

Do you think he will feature in the game?

He’s only been a Manchester City player for 3 weeks but Mario Balotelli’s agent is refusing to rule out a move to AC Milan in the not too distant future.

“Balotelli to AC Milan ? Nothing is impossible,” Mino Raiola said on Italian Radio Radio TV. “Who would have thought that  Ibrahimovic would be sold for €70 million and then for just €24 million?

“Everything has a price and everything is possible,” said Raiola.

Considering Balotelli is yet to feature in the Premier League for City, it seems ridiculous that his agent would get drawn on such a subject.

Manchester City have named their 25 man squad in accordance with the new Premier League rules that have come into play this season. Balotelli, whilst not named in the squad is eligible to play as he is under 21 and clubs are entitled to use as many U-21 players as needed.

The 25 man squad is detailed below.

Goalkeepers: Shay Given, Joe Hart, Stuart Taylor.

Defenders: Jerome Boateng, Wayne Bridge, Aleksander Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Shaleum Logan, Micah Richards, Kolo Toure, Pablo Zabaleta.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong, Adam Johnson, Michael Johnson, James Milner, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Patrick Vieira, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Forwards: Emmanuel Adebayor, Jo, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez.

Mario Balotelli has not been named in the squad to face Sunderland this afternoon.

Roberto Mancini named the same starting eleven that beat Liverpool 3-0 last week.

After Balotelli’s recent car crash and his injury in the away match against Timisoara, City fans will have to wait a little bit longer for the 20 year old Italian to make his Premier League debut.

Mario Balotelli has been involved in a car crash in Manchester according to the police. The 20 year old was not injured in the crash after his Audi A8 collided with a black BMW.

Both cars were taken away from the scene.

A spokseman from the Greater Manchester Police commented “”We were called to Chester Road in Hulme to reports of a two-car collision.

“Officers attended and found a black BMW had been in collision with an Audi A8.

“Nobody was injured.

“Both cars were damaged and removed from the scene.”

Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Manchester City’s second leg Europa League match against Romanian side Timisoara.

Balotelli injured himself in the first leg game in which he scored the vital away winner after coming on in the second half.

The Italian is expected to be fit in time to make his full debut against Sunderland this weekend.

Mario Balotelli failed a late fitness test as Manchester CIty brushed Liverpool aside in a comfortable 3-0 victory.

It didn’t take long for City to get on the score sheet with Barry slotting in from Milner’s pull back after 13 minutes. City dominated the first half as Liverpool were reduced to feeding on scraps of possession.
Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli could become a better player than Liverpool’s Fernando Torres according to his manager Roberto Mancini.

Balotelli scored on his Manchester City debut coming off the bench to fire in the winner in a 1-0 away win in the Europa League.
Read the rest of this entry »