AC Milan agree deal to sign Mario Balotelli

Italian side AC Milan have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli on a four-and-a-half-year contract. City manager Roberto Mancini said on Tuesday that Balotelli could complete the move after a medical on Wednesday. "Both clubs are talking about him," said Mancini. "Maybe on Wednesday they can close the deal." The clubs are believed to have agreed a fee of 22 million euros, rising to 25m euros with add-ons. "We love Mario, but he had this big chance to go back to Italy," added Mancini. "Milan started to talk to Manchester City in the last two days and they are very close." The Italy international had travelled with City to London for their Premier League game against Queens Park Rangers, which ended 0-0, on Tuesday evening, but did not feature in the squad. Milan director Umberto Gandini confirmed a deal had been struck hours before kick-off. Gandini said on Twitter: "Transfer agreement for Balotelli signed with Manchester City. Medical is on Wednesday in Milan, then personal terms until 2017 will be signed." Manchester City signed Balotelli for 24 million pounds in 2010 with the striker scoring 20 Premier League goals for the club. It might be just a coincidence but Balotelli's departure comes weeks after he was involved in a training ground altercation with boss Roberto Mancini. And that was the last in a series of controversies during his time with the Premier League champions. In his first season at Manchester City he scored 10 goals in 28 appearances, but was also sent off twice. He had a better season in 2011-12 as he scored 20 goals in 40 appearances but also picked up 11 yellow cards and a red card. Balotelli did a good job for Italy at Euro 2012, scoring twice in the semi-final win against Germany, but then failed to carry that form into the Premier League season. He made 20 appearances during the current campaign, 12 of those from the bench, and scored just three goals, the last of which came in a 2-0 victory at Wigan on 28 November. AC Milan are not doing too well in the Italian league at the moment, they are in 5th place and Bet365 have them at 50/1 to win the title this season, with favourites Juventus priced at 1/3.