Napoli the latest to move for City striker

It looks increasingly likely that punters in the Football Transfer Tavern are seeing the last of Mario Balotelli as a Premier League player with Napoli the latest club to be linked with a January move for the enigmatic striker.

According to ESPN journalist, Adam Digby, the Serie A club have said that the possibility of the 22-year-old forward returning to Italy with Napoli is one “for the future”.

Balotelli has suffered a concerning loss of form at the Etihad Stadium this term, and that combined with off-the-field issues, including a well publicised training ground fight with Roberto Mancini, could see him departing the Manchester club before the window closes.

Riccardo Bigon, the director of sport at the Stadio San Paolo-based club, failed to deny a possible move when he spoke to Sky Italia on Tuesday. “It is a very complicated situation and we are complete in terms of our strike force,” he said. “It is a situation for the future.”

AC Milan are also believed to be interested in bringing Mario back to Italy with his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium looking increasingly bleak.

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