Mario Balotelli plays down reputation

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli has insisted that media reports about his behaviour are mostly wrong.

Stories regarding the 22-year-old's antics appeared regularly in the media during his spell at Manchester City.

However, the Italian has insisted that most of the reports were not true, claiming that they were invented by the media.

"They invent too many stories about me," the forward told Le Iene. "I never burned my house down, never came to blows with Manchester United fans and never wore Milan's socks to training at Inter - 0.01% of what they say about me is true.

"I've destroyed zero cars, and the only real fine I've ever paid was when I came to Italy instead of celebrating the title with Manchester City.

"As a child, I've been unable to do the normal things of boys my age. You can have a nice car or house, but sometimes it makes it hard for me to try to be seen as a normal guy."

Balotelli joined Milan in the January transfer window.