The agent of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli says he's now too expensive for Serie A clubs.

Balotelli recently admitted he has no plans to leave the Etihad Stadium and his representative Mino Raiola could envisage the Italy international prolonging his time with the Premier League leaders.

"He is well in Manchester and perhaps he'll extend his contract," Raiola told La Nazione .

"My feeling is that it won't be easy for him to return to Serie A. He is too 'big' for Italy, in every sense.

"Mario has to go back as the top of the class. Whoever wants him has to bet everything on him, and welcome him like (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Lionel) Messi or (Samuel) Eto'o.

"But then I say, if Inter and AC Milan have difficulties in finding €30million (£24.8m) to invest on (Carlos) Tevez, how can they pay €60m (£49.5m) or €70m (£57.8m) for Balotelli?

"This is the value of Balotelli, he's the No.1. He will become one of the strongest in the world. City will never give him away."