MARIO BALOTELLI is not interested in a move back to Italy after Euro 2012 even if he would return a national hero. The striker will stay at Manchester City where, he says, the fans LOVE him.
That is despite Balotelli’s role in knocking out England in the quarter-final last weekend.
City paid Inter Milan £22million for Balotelli in 2010 but now Italian clubs are lining up to take him home.
Asked if he would move, Balotelli said: “Come back now? I go back to Manchester.
“The City fans always want me, even though they are British — and I have helped eliminate their national team.”After scoring twice in the semi-final win over Germany, Balotelli is preparing for the biggest game of his life.
Tomorrow’s final with Spain is another chance for him to prove that he can grab all the headlines for the right reasons.
Balotelli said: “It’s been a special year for me.
“We won the Premier League at Manchester City last season — so having a good season doesn’t depend on me winning the Euros.
“Yes, it would be something special for me but if we don’t win it, it wouldn’t spoil the other things.”
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli hailed the impact of City boss Roberto Mancini in the development of Balotelli.
He said: “He has enormous potential. He has a good coach in Mancini, who will help him grow.
“Mario now wants to repeat his performance against Germany on Sunday,” Among Spain’s stars is Balotelli’s City team-mate David Silva.
Balotelli smiled when asked if he would be on to his pal to talk about the clash in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium.
He said: “I know him, so I know it’s going to be fun but I played the first game against David Silva as well.”
That Group C clash ended 1-1 with Balotelli missing his share of Italy’s chances.
He said: “In the first few games I had so many chances but I was not able to score.
“But in football you also need luck.”
Luck and confidence — and we all know Balotelli has bundles of that.
He is certainly not intimidated by the reigning World and European champions.
Balotelli added: “I am really happy and, on Sunday, I hope I will be even more happy.
“We are in the final. We are one of the two best teams in the tournament, so we have to go there and play to win.”
Balotelli dedicated his two goals against the Germans to his mother.
He was born to Ghanaian immigrants in Italy but Silvia Balotelli took him in at the age of three and brought him up as her own.
Balotelli showed his gratitude with a huge hug for his watching mum after the semi-final win — and he hopes to dedicate a winner in the final to dad, Francesco.
He added: “After the Germany game, I went to my mum and I said, ‘These goals are for you’.
“It was the most beautiful night of my life but I hope that this Sunday is even better.
“The final is for my dad — and I hope to make it four goals in this tournament.
“If we win and I score, it will be amazing.
“But if I don’t score and we win, it will still be amazing.”
After the Warsaw celebrations, Balotelli could not wait to clamp on his giant headphones and listen to the sounds of hip-hop buddy Drake.
Balo revealed the Canadian music star — whose worldwide hits include Take Care and Thank Me Later — is the man getting him in the groove at Euro 2012.
The City star slipped off his cans long enough to add: “After beating Germany I went to greet everyone — my family, my brother, my many friends. Because it’s normal to want to celebrate with your nearest and dearest.
“And then I celebrated with the music of my friend Drake, listening to all his songs that I’ve uploaded. That was great.”
Balotelli is certainly rocking after firing his second and third goals of the tournament.
His first of the summer showpiece came against Republic of Ireland.
And as the joint top-scorer at the Euros, he is chasing a fourth goal and the Golden Boot.
He would then follow in the footsteps of European greats such as Gerd Muller, Alan Shearer and Michel Platini.
Balotelli said: “Yes, to be top scorer on my own I have to score another goal.
“I will try but in football you try many times and the ball does not enter the goal.”
Balotelli ripped off his shirt following his second goal against the Germans but he is giving no clues as to how he will celebrate victory, or a fourth goal tomorrow.
That goal was the pick of his three so far, latching on to a pass from Riccardo Montolivo and lashing the ball past Manuel Neuer in the German goal.
Balotelli said: “There is nothing to say about my celebration for my second goal.
“You saw it. You can judge. Did somebody get angry with the jubilation of the second goal?
“Because they saw my body and they are jealous.
“Anyway, I don’t have a special celebration for the final. I just hope I score.
“I think about scoring — I don’t think about a celebration.”
There is no doubt Spain will be thinking about Mario in their preparations.
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