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Balotelli with AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani. Antonio Calanni/AP/Press Association Images
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What did you dislike about England, Mario? The weather, the food... and the press

The Italian striker refused to speak to a reporter from The Sun at his unveiling today.

AC MILAN STRIKER Mario Balotelli hit out at the English media, weather and food, but had kind words for former club Manchester City as he was officially unveiled at the San Siro today.

Balotelli, who grew up as a fan of the Rossoneri, joined Milan for a fee of around €30 million in a deal that will see him remain at the Serie A giants until 2017.

Although admitting he would miss the “amazing” English Premier League, Balotelli said he was “really happy” to have returned to Milan, where he played for arch city rivals Inter prior to his City move in 2010.

The football aside, the 22-year-old admitted there are few things he will miss about England.

“The press first, the weather, the food,” replied Balotelli when asked to expand on an earlier answer about the bad things he experienced during his two-and-a-half-year stay in the Premier League.

To one journalist from The Sun newspaper, Balotelli took a firmer stance.

Ever since I arrived in England, your newspaper has always talked bad about me. So I don’t want to talk to you,” he added.

Seemingly admired and reviled in equal measure in the Premier League, where his off-field antics garnered as much if not more attention than his feats on the pitch, Balotelli said he would miss City, their manager Roberto Mancini and the club’s fans.

“I don’t have regrets, but I have to say thanks to all the City fans because they have all been nice to me, they always supported me in the good times and the bad,” he added.

“I also have to thank my team-mates and the manager (Mancini) as well.”

When asked what good things he would miss, Balotelli said: “Good things? Only when I get to play and train, my team-mates and the manager.

“To be honest, the Premier League is an amazing league and I think it’s the best.”

- © AFP, 2012

Watch the incident below:

YouTube credit: CalcioAmico

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