Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has split from girlfriend Raffaella Fico and wants a paternity test after she announced her pregnancy.

After the news broke this week, Balotelli last night released a statement.

"Even if I would've preferred not to talk about my private life in public, I find myself forced to intervene in order to clarify, once and for all, my relationship with Raffaella Fico.

"Our relationship concluded at the end of April and since then we have not seen each other nor had contact.

"I have no longer had anything to do with her life and Raffaella has no longer had anything to do with my life. Raffaella knows full well that from the moment we split up, I did not have and do not have any intention of getting back together with her.

"In any case, out of respect for everything we had together, I never wanted to talk about her, not even when false things were said and written.

"A few days ago I heard from a third party that Raffaella was pregnant. Because of this, I decided to contact her and only after my question asking if she was pregnant did she confirm it was true.

"I am very disappointed, as I don't think it's normal to not let someone know until the fourth month. I don't understand why she didn't contact me immediately to tell me something so important.

"I will take responsibility when I have proof of my paternity. I am very irritated that this matter has been monetised by selling photographs and interviews.

"I think Raffaella is famous enough that she doesn't have to use this story for publicity purposes too. This is the first and last time I will talk about this in public and so I have no intention of giving a response, regardless of what Raffaella says or writes."