Balotelli wants Inter stay

Mourinho has left the 18-year-old out of Inter’s trip to Atalanta.

“I am satisfied with what he has done over the last few days and he was clear with me for the first time in weeks,” explained Jose.

“He is no longer thinking about a loan move. He knows the door is closed and he wants to stay in order to work hard and do everything to adapt to our way of looking at football.

“It is an important step, but the team played well against Genoa with [Hernan] Crespo, Adriano and [Victor] Obinna, so it seems right to keep the faith with those lads.”

He added: “I cannot call up nine strikers for every game. I am sorry for Mario, just as I am for Quaresma and Mancini, but the job of a Coach is not easy.”