Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has agreed to a 4 1/2 year deal with AC Milan, according to a FOX Sports report.
“Transfer agreement for Balotelli signed with Manchester City,” Milan director Umberto Gandini said on Twitter. “Medicals tomorrow in Milan, then personal terms until 2017 signing.”
Milan will reportedly earn £20million, with some coming from bonuses. City has yet to comment. Barring anything unforeseen, Balotelli will join his new team ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline, thus ending a controversial 2 1/2-year run with the Blues.
A starter in the 2011 FA Cup final, Balotelli dealt the crucial injury-time pass that set up Sergio Aguero for the Premier League title-winning goal at the Etihad Stadium in May.
That moment came five weeks after manager Roberto Mancini had said Balotelli would never play for City again after he was sent off at Arsenal, having managed to avoid a red card for a challenge on Alex Song. Sportsmanship lapses such as that have damaged Balotelli’s legacy with the Blues.
