Man City Transfer News: AC Milan Re-Open Balotelli Pursuit

Are Milan about to swoop for Manchester City's fiery Italian striker? According to a report from the Mail Online, AC Milan have "subtly reopened" their pursuit of City's Mario Balotelli, as well as rubbishing rumours that one of their own players - Stephen El Shaarawy - is set to move to the Premier League and City specifically. The report suggests that Milan have reopened their pursuit, after the striker's latest public spat with manager Roberto Mancini, who substituted him after 70 minutes of his side's draw with West Ham on Saturday evening, inspiring a noticeably frustrated reaction from the striker, who stormed back to his seat, and appeared to mouth his angry feelings at Mancini. In the aftermath of the game, Mancini was critical of Balotelli:

"I think that a player like Balotelli, when he has a chance like to today, he should score. Because when you are a top player, if you have a chance, you should score this - but I don't think he didn't want to score."

He also went on to discuss the player's reaction on being taken off:

"It's normal. A player is never happy to leave the pitch, but if Mario had scored he'd have stayed on the pitch. I'm the manager, I decide. I cannot play with four strikers. "He should be disappointed with the chance he missed, not leaving the pitch in the last 25 minutes. It was a bad chance he missed."

The Italian striker came to City from Inter Milan in 2010, and despite that link, the Mail say he would have little concern joining the side's fiercest rivals, after leaving Italy under a cloud. That sentiment is apparently shared by AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani who the Mail say is "warming to the idea" despite his admission that it might be difficult:

"I have a profound love for Mario Balotelli, but many loves in life don't always end well."

Strop: Balotelli was unhappy with Roberto Mancini's decision to sub him after a poor show at West Ham Speaking on Monday, Galliani also dismissed rumours in Italy that El Shaarawy, who has been in sparkling form this season - scoring 10 goals in 17 games - would be moving the other way to City: "Manchester City are interested in signing El Shaarawy? Enough of this talk. He has contract with Milan until 2017, and soon he will sign an extension until 2018. He€™s an enchanting player." What do you think City fans? Would you like to see El Shaarawy join City, with Balotelli heading in the other direction? Or does the Italian deserve another chance to prove his talent? Share your thoughts below...