AC Milan signing Mario Balotelli from Manchester City
AC Milan says it has reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Mario Balotelli.The Italy striker will undergo a medical on Wednesday and is then expected to sign a 4½-year deal with Milan.
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The 22-year-old Italian joined Manchester City from Inter Milan in 2010.(Photo: Jon Super AP)
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Italy striker Mario Balotelli from the English champions.
However, City declined to comment on reports that a deal had been struck for the 22-year-old forward, who joined the Premier League club from Milan’s city rival Inter in 2010.
“An agreement has been reached with Manchester City, Balotelli will have a medical tomorrow and then sign,” Milan director Umberto Gandini told The Associated Press. “If he doesn’t pass the medical, it won’t happen.”
Italian media reported that Balotelli would sign a 4½-year deal with Milan through 2017, bringing an end to a turbulent 2½ years in English football.
Reports said Milan will pay €20 million ($27 million) plus bonuses for Balotelli, who will be taking a pay cut to move to the club he has supported since childhood.
Just three days ago, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said City was sticking firm to its asking price of €37 million ($50 million) for Balotelli.
Although the news pages of Milan’s website made no comment on the move, the club’s online shop has already started selling shirts with Balotelli’s name on.
Balotelli, who will link up with fellow Italy striker Stephan El Shaarawy at Milan, progressed through the ranks at Inter — where he caused outrage by putting on a Milan shirt during an appearance on a national television show in March 2010.
He has never been far from the headlines for his antics off the field at City either and was recently involved in a training-ground altercation with Mancini.
Earlier this month, Milan president Silvio Berlusconi said the club would not be signing Balotelli, saying “if you put a bad apple in the changing room it can infect everyone.”
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