They’ll never admit it, but things went pear shaped for Manchester City last season after they sold Mario Balotelli without buying an adequate replacement.

And over the weekend, rumours emerged that City now want to fill the Italian striker shaped hole in their front line with Super Mario’s club-mate at AC Milan and fellow Azzurri star, Stephen El Shaarawy.

The Italian media has suggested that City are ready to offer the Rossoneri as much £30 million for the highly-rated, spiky haired 20-year-old forward.

But while he says the interest of City is flattering, El Shaarawi insists that he wants to stay at the San Siro, where his blossoming partenership with Balotelli has been heralded as a highlight of Italian football.

"I don't think I will leave Milan,” El Shaarawy told La Repubblica.

"If City really want me it flatters me, but I want to stay here.

“I have always felt total confidence from everyone – the club, coach [Massimiliano] Allegri and team-mates.

"It's also thanks to them that I am in the Italian national team."