AC Milan are ready to splash out £20 million next month for Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.

Interim president Adriano Galliani has been ordered by Milan owner and Balotelli fan, Silvio Berlusconi, to take the former Inter Milan star back to San Siro and he plans to negotiate directly with City's Abu Dhabi owners and the player's agent, Mino Raiola, says the Daily Mail.

City's hierarchy feel the wayward 22-year-old is more trouble than he is worth following a series of indiscretions and are happy to encourage Milan's interest.

A senior source at San Siro said: "(Roberto) Mancini will not be involved so it doesn't matter what he thinks. The negotiations are going to take place between Abu Dhabi and Galliani, and they will include Balotelli's agent who is very close to Galliani."