Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City switch close, claims agent

Mario Balotelli edged closer to a move to Manchester City on Thursday night after his agent revealed there had been a “step forwards” in negotiations between the Eastlands club and Inter Milan.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has been continually linked with a move away from the San Siro over the summer with cash-rich City the favourites to land the striker.

Now, the forward’s agent claims a deal could go through as early as Friday - the day before Roberto Mancini’s side travel to Tottenham to kick off the new Premier League campaign.

“On Thursday there was a step forwards, I can confirm that,” Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola told Sky Italia. “So I am very confident about closing the deal soon but it doesn’t just depend on me.”

“Will he play on Saturday against Tottenham? Look, at this point I would say no. Even if we close the deal on Friday he wouldn’t be able to do it, because of all the paperwork.

“Then the English laws impose details that would exclude his presence as early as Saturday.

Raiola added: “I am very optimistic, but the deal is not already done. We haven’t decided yet if Mario will go to England on Friday, we need to think about that, but we haven’t established that.

Balotelli on Tuesday became the first black Italian player to represent his country at senior level during a 1-0 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast.