Balotelli's agent revealed on Thursday that a deal to take the Inter forward to Eastlands was close after the two clubs finally agreed a fee for his services. The 20-year-old has been a long-term transfer target for City boss Roberto Mancini, but the club were struggling to secure a deal with European champions Inter. However, Mancini told a press conference on Friday that the club was close to signing the 20-year-old Italy striker. The City boss said: "We are close with Balotelli. Hopefully today or tomorrow. Mario is on his way here today." Reports suggest City will pay £24million for the Italy international. Balotelli's Inter Milan team-mate Marco Materazzi was quoted on www.gazzetta.it as saying: "I am happy for Mario, but we will be weakened by his departure." If all goes to plan, Balotelli will become City's fifth signing of another busy and expensive summer after the arrivals of Jerome Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov, with Aston Villa's James Milner likely to follow. However, Milner's move may have to wait until after the opening weekend of the Barclays Premier League season. Mancini said: "We need another two or three days for this situation. We need everyone to be happy." The City manager seemed to put an end to Craig Bellamy's time at Eastlands by suggesting he will not be included in his 25-man squad for the coming league season. He said: "I have to choose 25. The rest must find another team. Craig is out of the list." Balotelli's Inter Milan team-mate Marco Materazzi was quoted on www.gazzetta.it as saying: "I am happy for Mario, but we will be weakened by his departure." Getting Milner to Eastlands might be somewhat harder. Although the England star has settled on his future, a delay has apparently been encountered because Stephen Ireland is demanding £2million compensation to move in the opposite direction. "I think it will be OK but we need another two or three days," said Mancini. "When you do a deal, everything must go in a good way for everybody, so we probably need another two or three days for this situation." If it is a time of optimism as far as Balotelli and Milner are concerned, for Bellamy, the end of his City career is in sight. Earlier this week, the fiery Welshman claimed Mancini had stopped speaking with him, part of an overall assault that is likely to land him with a two-week fine. It appeared to end any hope Bellamy might have had of remaining at Eastlands. But now even that slim chance has been dashed. "I have to choose 25 players," said Mancini. "Those that are out of the list have to find another team. Craig is out of the list. "What he has said is not important because it is false. I speak with the players every day and Craig always played for me last year. This year I choose other players. I am the manager and it is my choice." Mancini confirmed he is yet to decide whether Joe Hart or Shay Given will be his goalkeeper at White Hart Lane on Saturday, but expressed confidence that the man who loses out will remain at the club, even though both have said independently that they will have to seek pastures new to preserve their international futures. The City boss is also planning talks with record signing Robinho, although the Brazilian does not appear to be in contention for the season opener. "Robinho arrived yesterday but he is very tired," said Mancini. "He has had the World Cup and other matches but he is on the list. "At the moment he is here but we will know more when I have spoken to him next week."
