Palermo rule out Balotelli

Balotelli was born in the Sicilian city and was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport: "You know where I'd like to play? Palermo. I'd love to go there. It's a nice place, and it's sunny."

Palermo's finances have been boosted by the sale of Argentinian playmaker Javier Pastore to Paris St Germain for a reported £37million, but even so, Zamparini thinks Balotelli is out of their league. "But if we sold (Javier) Pastore over a contract issue, imagine what we'd be taking on with Balotelli."

He added: "Mario is an Inter Milan, AC Milan or Juventus type of player, but even those clubs would have problems finding the kind of money that he gets paid at Manchester City. Let alone Palermo."

Zamparini instead said he was focused on signing "at least three players" before the summer transfer window closes.

They are reportedly interested in Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino, Uruguayan winger Matias Aguirregaray from Spanish side Terrassa, River Plate striker Lucas Ocampos and Santos midfielder Marcos Arouca.