Manchester City strike force is better than Barcelona's, says striker Mario Balotelli

Manchester City strike force is better than Barcelona's, says striker Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli has dismissed Wayne Rooney as “not even the best in Manchester” after claiming that he is part of the world’s most potent strikeforce at Manchester City.

Talks a good game: Mario Balotelli (right) likes to big himself up Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

By Mark Ogden 5:12PM GMT 18 Jan 2011

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The Italian, who is at least three weeks away from returning to training as a result of a knee injury, also revealed in a interview with Gazzetta dello Sport supplement Extra Time that he will remain at Eastlands only “for this year and one more”.

Balotelli banished concerns about his unhappiness at City by insisting life is benissimo, and said he was relishing the prospect of playing alongside Carlos Tevez and £27 million new signing Edin Dzeko.

“Our attack of Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko is the best in the world,” he said. “We are the strongest. Can you see anything better than this now in the world? Me neither, not even at Barcelona or Real.

“He [Rooney] is a very good player but not the best in Manchester. United fans stop me in the street and say, ‘Mario, come to us’. But I dream of beating them because I know how much the City fans care. They are wonderful with me. It gave me goosebumps when they sang my name after I scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa recently.”

Despite claiming to be more settled in Manchester, Balotelli admitted being “a bit envious” of Antonio Cassano’s recent move from Sampdoria to AC Milan, but said he was not ready to return to Italy.

He said: “It’s still early. For this year and one more I’ll stay at City, where I feel benissimo, extremely well. I live right in the centre of Manchester, in a modern building, with a splendid view.

“And there is Charlie, an Indian from Kashmir, who takes me around and helps me. Then there’s Curtis, another driver, who knows everybody. I’ve found a lot of kind people.”

Balotelli, whose prospects of being fit to face United on Feb 12 are no better than 50-50, believes Roberto Mancini is on course to be the best manager in the world. “He’s the most important coach I’ve ever had.” Balotelli said. “He’ll soon become No 1 in the world. But now, in terms of human qualities, he is two kilometres ahead of Mourinho, wait, make that 10 kilometres.

“He repeats to me: ‘When I joined Sampdoria from Bologna, I already felt I was the best of all. Then I realised how hard I had to work to improve’. I’ve got the message.”qtdz
Telegraph.co.uk