Both AC Milan and Inter have been credited with interest in the Italy international in the past, with the former's owner Silvio Berlusconi recently admitting he 'liked the player'.

Balotelli, who was left out of the 18-man squad which faced Tottenham in the Premier League last weekend, was recently assured by manager Roberto Mancini that his future at Etihad Stadium is secure.

And his representative Mino Raiola supports the assertions.

"He feels really good at City," Raiola told Mediaset.

"There is no crisis between Mario and City or between Mario and Mancini. What the papers write is garbage. Not being happy at being in the stands is completely different to wanting to leave."

And Raiola continued to state his belief that Balotelli would remain at the club for the foreseeable future, with a move to Italy unfeasible.

"We plan to stay at City for at least another year-and-a-half," he said. "Even if we did decide to leave tomorrow, I don't think there are any clubs in Italy that could sign him."