Mario Balotelli wished his former Manchester City teammates good luck ahead of their FA Cup Final and advised Luis Suarez. “I’m still a fan.”
The Milan striker sat down with the Sunday Mirror to reassure the side he left in January for £20m and manager Roberto Mancini, as they prepare to take on Wigan Athletic next Saturday.
Mario Balotelli wished his former Manchester City teammates good luck ahead of their FA Cup Final and advised Luis Suarez. “I’m still a fan.”
The Milan striker sat down with the Sunday Mirror to reassure the side he left in January for £20m and manager Roberto Mancini, as they prepare to take on Wigan Athletic next Saturday.
“Roberto will do everything he needs this summer and Manchester City will win back the title next season,” said Super Mario.
“City will sign two or three of the best players in the world — and we will not see a repeat of this season. The FA Cup final has become a very big game for Manchester City, even though it was not the trophy we were all talking about in the dressing room at the start of season.
“Everybody wanted to retain the league and also do well in Europe. But those two things did not work out — so now the FA Cup means everything.
“Of course, City should win it, but football can be strange. I learned an English saying when I played for City — ‘The magic of the Cup’. It means anything can happen.”
Balotelli was Man of the Match in the 2011 FA Cup Final victory over Stoke.
“It was a great game to play in, but I have no regrets. I know that I am at a team with a lot of tradition that is also capable of winning big trophies.
“I am still a Manchester City fan, though — the club will always be in my heart. I might not be playing in the final this time, but I will be watching my friends as a fan.”
The Italian international also told the Sunday Mirror that controversial Liverpool striker Suarez has replaced him in the eyes of the tabloid press.
“Suarez is now somebody that the whole of England finds interesting. It doesn’t matter if people like him or don’t like him, they will always be interested in exactly what he is doing. Like they were with me.
“My only advice to him is ignore everything that people say about you. The only thing Suarez needs to do is concentrate on football.”
Suarez is sitting out a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic on the arm.