Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's life story is set to become an opera!

The Daily Star Sunday says Balotelli's life story is being set to music in a new opera.

Composer Patrick Knowles plans to write the work about the player who has earned cult status among Blues fans for his antics.

The first piece of the musical has already been penned and is called Balotelli - Why Always Me?

It was inspired by the T-shirt worn by the striker during City's 6-1 derby win over United at Old Trafford last October.

Patrick, 65, from Stockport, Cheshire, says the full opera is still in an "embryonic" state. But he believes it could be as big a hit as Jerry Springer: The Opera, which was based on the American talk show host.