MANCHESTER CITY STRIKER Mario Balotelli has admitted that while he loves Italy, he has pledged to stay with his current club.
The temperamental attacker has been linked with a move back to his homeland after a number of incidents on and off the pitch this season, but has insisted that he intends to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
“I love Italy but I will stay at City,” the former Inter striker told Corriere dello Sport.
“The Premier League is the highest level for a player, and is a league I enjoy.”
Balotelli came off the bench in City’s decisive last-day win over QPR, and provided the assist for Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal, which sealed the top-flight crown.
The 21-year-old insisted that he can improve even further next season, but stressed that the most important thing is team success.
“I might have even scored the winner, but the important thing is that the team won. In general, from a personal perspective, I can do better. I can and should do better,” he said.
Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has confirmed that Balotelli will be part of the national squad for Euro 2012, and the striker is determined to excel in Ukraine and Poland.
“It is a dream come true. The European Championship, together with the World Cup, are the most important competitions, and I promise that in Poland and Ukraine I will behave,” he said.
“I cannot wait for it to start. I will give my best for the team and try to give satisfaction to the Italian people. We will be the revelation of the tournament.”
