Mancini: Milan just the job for Mario

ROBERTO Mancini knows Mario Balotelli’s departure could harm Manchester City’s title hopes - but believes the move to AC Milan is what the forward needs.

The 22–year–old Italian was today undergoing a medical with the Serie A giants in preapration for a return to his home country after two and a half volatile years in Manchester.

The move will cost Milan around £20million.

“I lost one important striker and that could be important in the next 14 games,” Mancini said. “But it is important for Mario — to be back in Italy, back with his family and to play for Milan.”

The move will end a remarkable stay at the Etihad Stadium, which saw almost as many headlines for off–field incidents as success on it.

Through most of the controversy, Mancini has stood by a player to whom he has paid special attention since they were together at Inter Milan.

Asked if Balotelli has become too hard to manage, Mancini said: “No, no, no, not for me. For me, Mario was like another of my children.”