Manchester City have completed the signing of Italy striker Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan.
The Eastlands outfit have been pursuing Balotelli for much of the summer and have finally landed him on a five-year deal after agreeing an undisclosed fee with Inter thought to be around £24million.
The combustible forward will not be available for tomorrow's opening Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.
Boss Roberto Mancini told the club's website mcfc.co.uk: "I think that Mario is one of the best players of his age in Europe, and I very happy to be working with him again.
"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."
Mancini is confident he will have no problems with Mario Balotelli's notoriously fiery temper.
In Balotelli, Mancini has signed a combustible character, who twice angered former boss Jose Mourinho enough to stop him playing for Inter Milan, including appearing on TV in a shirt of rivals AC Milan.
Yet, Mancini does not view Balotelli's indiscretions as any more than the folly of youth.
"Balotelli is a young guy and he is a good guy," said the City chief.
"Like all the young men, sometimes his behaviour is not good. But it is wrong to say he is not a good man.
"I don't believe he will have a big problem."
Mancini will have to wait until the home encounter with Liverpool on August 23 to hand Balotelli his debut as the new Italy striker did not sign in time to be considered this weekend and he was not part of the squad City submitted to UEFA for their two-legged Europa League tie with Timisoara.
However, when he does eventually unleash Balotelli on the Premier League, Mancini is confident his most recent recruit will be an instant hit.
"In one or two years he could become one of the best players in the world," said Mancini.
"I know Mario very well. I put him in the first team at Inter when he was 17.
"He can play right wing, main striker or second striker. He is a fantastic player and he can improve purely because he has changed countries."
Official: Mario Balotelli signs for Manchester City
August 13, 2010
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Phew - Welcome to Manchester Super Mario - Make us proud!!
Get in!!! onwards and upwards blue boys!1
Hunky dory!
I m realy looking forward to watching this lad play, i think he will be up for the challenge of helping bring the glory to MCFC, so wellcome SUPER MARIO TO OUR SUPER CLUB !!! CTID BELIEVE.
Just relieved this has finally been concluded. Hope he turns out to be as good as Mancini thinks he is. Welcome Mario !
It's a good job he did wait an extra day. If he'd arrived yesterday and seen that rain, he might have thought 'sod this'!!!
Brilliant signing, City have made great signings this transfer window.. they look like a title contender now, not just a top four team. All the best city, lot of exciting new talent you got there. Just hope there is some sanity in the market once City make it to the top four. All the best guys, and hoping my favorite player in the EPL - Tevez does better than what he did last season.
Ciao Mario! Now, time to think of a terrace song for the lad; ideas fellas?
SUPER MARIO!!!
It's about time, this guy is gonna give Carlos a run for his money for player of the season and the golden boot!!!
Bout time too!!! He will give Carlos a run for his money to be player of the season!!!!
This lad is a real player, hope he can behave tho too, hopefully we have just got rid of one ed the ball in bellamy!!!
Yaaaay! At last. Mario, you'll find a home here as the racism you got back in Italy isn't tolerated here. I think he'll really take to playing for us.
It's a good job he did wait an extra day. If he'd arrived yesterday and seen that rain, he might have thought 'sod this'!!!
??????? It's been battering it down all day today aswell.
I am very excited by this signing. I am sure the kid will test the patience of Roberto and the fans but we must give him time to settle. Welcome to Manchester Mario!!
Welcome to Manchester Super Mario, hope for some on-pitch fireworks from you in the game against the Bin Dippers a week on Monday, and also get yourself in the Europa Lge team for the Romania trip, get a game under your belt, before terrorising Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtyl
What a side the Don is building here, I cannot wait to see all these guys play in the same game for City and turn the style on, someone somewhere is in for a beating the likes of which the Premiership has never before witnessed.
Just James Milner and either David Luiz or Zlatan Ibrahimovic now and then put the chequebook away for a season or so.
Don't forget what Ancelotti said - with Super Mario on board we could be challenging for the title. I think this is the most excited I've been as a City fan going into a new season!!!!
great signing for city now let's kick some backside
Such good news it appears to have crashed the MCFC website as everyone checks up on what Mancini has said!!
But let's not get carried away, I reserve judgement on how well he has done for when he has played for us a few times. Same with all the new signings. It isn't a team of individual greats we need it is a TEAM.
So roll on the new season. Early train for Spurs tomorrow and hopefully a win to start the season properly.
The revolving doors at Wastelands keep on turning.
As one chancer arrives, another one leaves - I hope someone is keeping count . . .
can,t wait to see him in a blue shirt ,think he will be a cult player for us,just what we need
OK SLAG ME OFF BUT 24 MILLION ! COME ON, WHAT HAS THE LAD DONE. COULD BE A STAR BUT A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY TO FIND OUT. COME ON SPURS . L.U.H.C....
D FACTO @ 18:27, Whats up fella you getting a little worried HEY ! HEY! you should be cos we are comeing chap !!! CTID BELIEVE.
Great news. And in time to play tomorrow although I suspect that might be a bit soon. Ancelotti, a big admirer of our new signing, said three weeks ago that if we sign him we would win the title. That might be going a little bit too far but I certainly think he will help us in the right direction. It's all looking very positive. Now it would be nice to pick up three points at Spurs who seem very cocky and confident so it would be nice to knock those cockerels off their perch!
Somebody pinch me plllllleeeeeeeeeesseeeeeeeee
Can't say i'm very excited about the signing however, Bobby Manc must know what he is doing so welcome Mario !!