Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has demanded a paternity test to prove that he is the father of his former girlfriend's unborn child.
Raffaella Fico told Chi magazine that she had informed the 21-year-old Italy international last week that she was four-months pregnant with his baby.
Balotelli has now released a statement clarifying his relationship with the 24-year-old model and claiming that he will assume his fatherly responsibilities as soon as his paternity is verified.
"Although I would have preferred not to speak about my private life in public, I feel obliged to clarify, once and for all, my relationship with Raffaella Fico," read the statement. "Our relationship ended at the start of April and since then we have not met, nor heard from one another. I have not had anything to do with her life and Raffaella has not had anything to do with my life.
"Raffaella knows well that since we parted company with one another that I had, and have, no intention of returning to her. But because of what there was between us, I never wanted to talk about it, even when there were untrue things being said and written about us.
"A few days ago I came to learn from others that Raffaella was pregnant. For this reason, I decided to contact her and only after my question was it confirmed to me that it was true. I am very disappointed. I do not think it's normal not to know anything until the fourth month [of the pregnancy].
"I do not understand why she did not contact me immediately to tell me something of such importance. I'll assume all my responsibilities when I have the proof of my paternity."
Balotelli was the joint-topscorer at Euro 2012, with three goals.
