Striker Mario Balotelli joined City from Internazionale in August 2010, bringing with him both Champions League and Serie A-winning experience. Born in Palermo, Italy in 1990, Balotelli overcame an initial life-threatening illness to begin his career with Lumezzane. He made his senior debut at the age of 15 against Padova in the Serie C1.

In 2006 after just two appearances for Lumezzane, 'Super Mario' went on loan to Internazionale. He started his career at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the under-17 squad before joining the Primavera under-20 team. The promising young striker’s first-team debut came in December 2007 as a substitute. Three days later he scored two goals during Inter’s 4-1 Coppa Italia win against Reggina. That season he also scored in the Supercoppa Italiana final against Roma.

Balotelli signed a three-year deal with Inter ahead of the 2008/09 season. In November 2008 he became the youngest Inter player to score in the Champions League when he netted against Anorthosis Famagusta. He has since continued to impress by helping Inter win the 2010 Champions League, Coppa Italia and Serie A trophies, scoring 20 goals in 59 appearances.The 19 year-old has made 16 appearances for the Italian under 21s, scoring six goals. He won his first full cap for Italy during a 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in August 2010.

Mario played a vital role in City's title-winning campaign of 2011/12, with a return of 13 goals in 24 league appearances, including a brace in the season-defining 6-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford - the first of which prompted his now-infamous "Why Always Me?" t-shirt goal celebration.

With City clinching the title on goal difference, it's also difficult to underestimate the importance Mario's two goals against Sunderland in the, at the time, disappointing draw at the Etihad Stadium in May. His introduction against QPR on the final day was also instrumental in upsetting the solid resistance the Rs backline had posed until that point

The highlight of the striker's international career for the Azzurri arrived at last summer's Euro 2012 tournament where he finished joint top-scorer with three goals, including a couple against Germany which fired Cesare Prandelli's men into the final of the competition.