Man City target Balotelli is not "indispensable" says Inter president
Published 23:00 28/07/10 By David Anderson
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has paved the way for Mario Balotelli's move to Manchester City by claiming the striker is not "indispensable".
Moratti is desperate to offload the troublesome Balotelli to City and admits the Inter players want him out.
Balotelli's transfer fee remains the final sticking point for the deal, with City refusing to meet Inter's £29.3million asking price for the talented, if volatile, Italian Under-21 international.
Moratti said: "Everyone is right about Balotelli. He is a talent, who in my opinion, has yet to express himself 100 per cent. But his talent, in this moment, doesn't seem so indispensable.
"We have important offers and objectives of an economic character, so you make a sacrifice with the player who everyone wants, not with the one who you try to sell and no one wants.
"Balotelli remains a great talent, but for us it's almost an obligation to exit in this way. I definitely had a good relationship with him, then again I don't know what he'll say about that."
Balotelli, 19, fell out with former boss Jose Mourinho, the fans and his team-mates last season and Moratti admits he is not part of the dressing room.
This is hardly a glowing reference for Balotelli, but Roberto Mancini believes he can get the best out of him, having brought him through at the San Siro as Inter boss.
"Balotelli wasn't very happy at certain moments, as weren't the others," he said. "But the victories meant that everything was forgiven, also because there was respect for a professional who plays well.
"That doesn't take away from the fact that he felt a little less part of the group."
