Manchester City’s summer spree passes 100 m pounds

LONDON - Manchester City took their summer spending through the 100 million-pound ($156 million) mark Friday after they signed striker Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan.

The 20-year-old Italian signed a five-year contract in a deal thought to be worth around 24 million pounds ($37.4 million).

City had already spent 77 million pounds ($120 million) on the acquisition of David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng.

The move will reunite Balotelli with City manager Roberto Mancini, who was in charge at Inter Milan when the Italian was a teenager.

“I think that Mario is one of the best players of his age in Europe and I’m very happy to be working with him again,” Mancini said.

“His style of play will suit the Premier League and because he is still so young there is a big chance for him to improve. He is a strong and exciting player, and City fans will enjoy watching him.”

Mancini said he still hopes to prise England midfielder James Milner from Aston Villa before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

City begin their Premier League campaign away to Tottenham Hotspur.