Balotelli throws City future into doubt

MARIO BALOTELLI has thrown his future at Manchester City into fresh doubt by revealing that he has no friends in England and would move back to Italy if he had to switch clubs.

The Italian forward has enjoyed the most successful period of his City career so far this season but has also been embroiled in controversy with a training-ground bust-up with team-mate Micah Richards and a spell staying in a Manchester hotel after a fire at his house started when a firework went off in one of the bathrooms.

Balotelli, who is doubtful for tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, rates City coach Roberto Mancini as the one who could get the best out of him — though he also hit out at the English media for exaggerating stories about him which are then repeated back in Italy. But it is his comments about his life in England and his future that will be of most concern to City fans.