Mario Balotelli's agent slams Silvio Berlusconi over criticism of City striker

And the agent, Mino Raiola, says there is virtually no chance Balotelli will be returning to Italy this month.

Berlusconi said Balotelli is "a bad apple," and did not want him in the AC Milan squad.

He made his comments in the aftermath of Balotelli's training ground bust-up with Roberto Mancini, pictures of which were published around the world.

But Raiola insisted that Berlusconi was wrong, adding that the controversial striker - who has also been linked with Napoli - would not be sold to any Italian club.

"Balotelli is not a bad apple. He is a cherry," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"I think that in this case the President made a huge mistake, it was a real gaffe.

"As for Balotelli's chances of returning to Italy right now, I'd give it at 0.0001 per cent. Napoli? There is absolutely nothing in this story."