Ciao, Mario? David Platt denies Balotelli's heading home to Italy this week

Reports in Italy suggest the controversial striker is poised to move to AC Milan before the deadline this week.

MANCHESTER CITY ASSISTANT manager David Platt insisted today he knew nothing about reports temperamental striker Mario Balotelli was set to leave the Premier League champions.

And he also ruled out any emergency defensive signings for City in the final days of the transfer window, despite their injury problems at the back. According to Italian media, Balotelli is poised to move to AC Milan, perhaps in a deal involving former Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.

However, Italian forward Balotelli whose rented luxury mansion has been advertised with estate agents since the beginning of the year, was at City today amidst reports he had held a farewell party and handed out mementoes of his time at the club to friends.

“We’ve three days left before the (January transfer window) deadline, and I haven’t heard anything,” Platt, deputy to City manager Roberto Mancini said Monday. “It’s a shame Robbie’s (Mancini) not here because he might know a lot more than me.

“As far as we’re concerned, he (Balotelli) is still a Manchester City player. I’m not aware of any negotiations.”

City paid Inter Milan £22 million for the Italy striker in August 2010, but his time at the club has been peppered with controversy both on and off the pitch. And Mancini, who found himself in a training ground shoving match with the striker, was forced yet again last week to deny Balotelli was being sold.