By MARTIN BLACKBURN
Boss Roberto Mancini is fighting a losing battle to keep the controversial striker at the Etihad for the long-term.
Balotelli will tomorrow face his current employers at a Premier League tribunal after being charged with misconduct and hit with a fine of £340,000.
The punishment was dished out by the champs due to his on-field indiscipline last season, which saw the Italian banned for 11 of their 54 games.
Balotelli has chosen to fight it — and in doing so puts a further question mark over his future with the transfer window re-opening in a fortnight.
Serie A giants Milan are monitoring the situation closely and will have cash to spend if they can shift ex-City forward Robinho or Alexandre Pato.
Super Mario’s old club Inter are also interested, but neither are likely to meet City’s £24million asking price or match his £170,000-a-week wages.
A lower offer would leave City with a decision over whether to cut their losses or persevere with the 22-year-old who is now only fourth choice striker at the club.
Mancini has stood by Balotelli all along — insisting as recently as last week that he was 100 per cent sure the forward would stay with City.
But senior figures at the Etihad are growing fed up with his behaviour, leaving the manager almost isolated in his backing for the Italy international.
Balotelli claims he wants to stay at the club, with his agent Mino Raiola saying: “I don’t have any comments to make about the tribunal. Mario is happy in Manchester.”
But he faces a battle to force his way back into the side after City produced arguably their best performance of the season in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Newcastle without him in the squad.
And his fight with the club could become increasingly bitter as Balotelli prepares to go in front of an independent two-man hearing tomorrow.
If he is unsuccessful in over-turning the misconduct charge he is prepared to go before the Football League Appeals Committee in a bid to clear his name, meaning it could drag on until the New Year.
Balotelli will be represented by his own law team but he is also being advised by the PFA — who believe City have gone outside their guidelines by charging the player.
The union’s chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “We try to avoid situations like this but the player and club have not been able to resolve this situation.”
City would like it to be resolved quickly, clearing the way for a possible sale in January, but Balotelli is determined to dig his heels in.
Meanwhile, Northumbria police plan to speak with City defender Aleksandar Kolarov this week over his clash with two fans at St James’ Park.
