The Italy forward has been linked with a move but apparently the club's owners want him to stay because of his global profile.

"I think Mario will stay but the future depends mostly on him," Man City coach Roberto Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Sheikh Mansour likes Balotelli because he recognises the talent and he exports the name of the City over the world.

"We need to consider that Mario was made as a major investment, and this is not a club that throws its capital through the window."