After weeks of speculation Inter reached an agreement for Balotelli's transfer to Manchester City on 12 August 2010 for €21.8 million.[54][55] At Manchester City Balotelli reunited with his former boss, Roberto Mancini,[56] who said, "His style of play will suit the Premier League, and because he is still so young there is a big chance for him to improve. He is a strong and exciting player, and City fans will enjoy watching him."[56] Balotelli exchanged squad number with teammate Greg Cunningham so that he could continue to wear the number 45 shirt.[57]
On 19 August 2010 Balotelli came on as a substitute to score in his debut against Politehnica Timişoara in a 1–0 away win in theEuropa League,[58] but during the match injured the lateral meniscus in his right knee and on 8 September underwent surgery that sidelined him until October.[59] Balotelli eventually made his Premier League debut on 24 October as a substitute in a 3–0 home defeat to Arsenal[60] and made his first Premier League on 30 October in a 2–1 away defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.[61]Balotelli scored his first and second Premier League goals on 7 November in a 2–0 away win to West Brom.[62] In the same game Balotelli received a red card for violent conduct as the result of a clash with Youssuf Mulumbu, which his manager Roberto Mancini described as unfair.[63] Balotelli scored the first two of City's three goals in the 3–0 win over FC Red Bull Salzburg in Manchester City's Europa League group stage match.[64]
On 21 December 2010 Balotelli won the Golden Boy Award, saying that only one of the past winners was slightly better than he was –Lionel Messi. He also claimed not to know of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, the player he narrowly beat to the award.[65] On 28 December 2010 Balotelli scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Aston Villa.[66] Despite this success Balotelli still had disciplinary problems, and in March 2011 he was sent off in the second-leg of Manchester City's Europa League draw with Dynamo Kyiv.[67] On 14 May 2011 Balotelli was man of the match in the 2011 FA Cup Final as Manchester City defeated Stoke City 1–0 to win their first trophy in thirty-five years.[68]
2011–12
"The problem is because of his age, he can make some mistakes. He's Mario. He's crazy – but I love him because he's a good guy."
Balotelli scored his first goal of the 2011–12 campaign in a 2–0 League Cupwin against Birmingham City. He followed this up with the opening goal against Everton three days later. On 1 October 2011 he scored his third goal in as many games in a 4–0 win away to Blackburn Rovers. Balotelli scored the opening two goals and forced the dismissal of Jonny Evans as City beat Manchester United 6–1 atOld Trafford on 23 October 2011 in what would prove to be a decisive game in helping win Manchester City the league title.[70] Balotelli made his Champions League debut for City on 2 November 2011, in the second leg against Villarreal. He scored on a penalty shot near the end of the first half, his first Champions League goal for City and his seventh goal overall in the season.[71] On 27 November, Balotelli came on as a 65th minute substitute against Liverpool and was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.[72] Balotelli scored using his right shoulder in City's 5–1 win over Norwich City on 3 December.[73] He put City 1–0 up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after just two minutes on 12 December, although Chelsea rallied to win 2–1.[74]
On 22 January 2012, Balotelli came on as a substitute during a match against Tottenham Hotspur. He appeared to stamp on Scott Parker during the match against Tottenham, but, already booked, did not get a second yellow from referee Howard Webb, who did not see the incident.[75] Balotelli subsequently scored his first goal of 2012, an injury-time penalty which secured a 3–2 win for City.[76] He was charged for violent conduct for the kick against Scott Parker and was suspended for four matches, three for violent conduct and one for his second sending off.[75] On 25 February, he scored his tenth league goal of the season in a 3–0 home win against Blackburn Rovers.[77] He scored again the following game in a 2–0 win against Bolton Wanderers.[78] On 31 March, Balotelli scored twice as City drew 3–3 at home against Sunderland. However, Balotelli was criticized for his actions in the match after squabbling with Aleksandar Kolarov over a free kick. Roberto Mancini claimed after the game that he had considered substituting Balotelli just five minutes into the match.[79] On 8 April 2012, Balotelli received his fourth red card of the season, after receiving his second yellow card during the match for a tackle against Bacary Sagna during City's 1–0 loss to Arsenal in April 2012.[80] He was banned for three games (one for the two yellow cards and two for the previous two red cards in the same season).[81] After the Arsenal match, Mancini appeared to have finally lost his patience with Balotelli, suggesting that Balotelli would not play any part in the remainder of City's season and be sold by the club.[82] Despite this, Balotelli did make an appearance as a late substitute in the last game of the season, a title-deciding match against Queens Park Rangers. Balotelli provided the assist to strikerSergio Agüero, who scored in the 94th minute to give City their first league title since 1968.[83]
2012–13
In December 2012, Balotelli decided to fight against Manchester City's decision to fine him two weeks' wages for his poor disciplinary record the previous season by taking his club to a Premier League tribunal. Balotelli missed 11 games domestically and in Europe last season because of suspensions. With less than a day remaining to the start of the hearing, Balotelli dropped his tribunal action and accepted the fine.
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