FC Sion have rejected criticism of new striker Mario Balotelli.

The Italian pictured stumbling out of a Swiss nightclub earlier this week.

Balotelli, formerly of Manchester City and Inter Milan, joined the Swiss outfit on deadline day earlier this month following a one-year stint in Turkey with Adana Demirspor.

However, after footage of the Italian, accompanied by friends, leaving the nightclub in Lausanne surfaced on the internet, the Swiss club released a statement jumping to his defence.

“We're happy with the team's performance since Balotelli's arrival," read a club statement. "Sion regrets that the video has taken on unnecessary and disproportionate proportions that damage the image of our striker."