New Manchester City signing Mario Balotelli has revealed he would have preferred to stay in Italy and continue his career in Serie A.
The 20-year-old striker left treble winners Inter Milan to rejoin former coach Roberto Mancini in Manchester for the princely fee of £24 million.
But the highly-rated forward now says he would have preferred to continue to play in Italy.
“I’m sorry that I’m leaving Inter and Italy because I would have preferred to continue my career in my own country,” Balotelli said on his official website.
“I’m going where I hope to find the space I need to play which is very important to me: I need to play, to make mistakes, to learn and to play again. As well as a calm environment around me.”
“It’s been a difficult year: I’ve recognised my mistakes, but I think I’ve often been under and receiving end of criticism that at times has irritated me.”
He added: “Now all I am thinking about is playing well for my new club and in the Premier League.”
Balotelli made his debut for Inter as a 17-year-old in 2007 under the guidance of Mancini. The newly-capped Italian international made 86 appearances, scoring 28 goals.