National Sport
Balotelli deal reaches impasse
10:58am Friday 30th July 2010
Mario Balotelli's agent says the teenage striker is "anxious" to complete his protracted move to Manchester City.
The Inter Milan forward has long been linked with a move to City and all parties were hopeful of completing a deal early this week. However, Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, flew back to Italy from Manchester on Thursday night and admitted they are still far from coming to a deal.
"As long as there's hope there's life," Raiola told Sky Italia. "He's calm but anxious to come to an agreement, that's normal for a lad of 19. We're working and we're hoping."
Reports indicate that the sticking point is the 19-year-old's wage demands.
Mancini is keen to be reunited with Balotelli, who he snapped up as Inter coach in 2006, but has insisted they will not pay inflated salaries to anybody.
Inter have repeatedly said they will not sell the Italy Under-21 international for less than 35million euros (just over £29million).