Media round-up: Thursday, 17th November

Mario Balotelli has said he is not interested in leaving Manchester City to return to previous club Inter Milan, according to the Daily Mirror. Inter president Massimo Moratti has revealed his desire to lure Balotelli back to the San Siro during the January transfer window, but Balotelli said: "Not now. One day, we will see. I thank Moratti for saying he would sign me back immediately. But I'm very happy where I am. I don't want to leave Manchester City right now."

The Sun, meanwhile, run an 'exclusive' on Balotelli's initial struggle to put on his shirt on the start of the second half during Italy's midweek defeat against Uruguay. Fascinating stuff.

Various papers report that City winger Adam Johnson will sign a new £80,000 a-week four-year contract with the club in the next 48 hours.

James Milner is confident that off the field distractions will not stop Manchester City from continuing their excellent start to the season that has seen them open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. "As a team, we just keep moving forward," he said. "There always seems to be things going on off the field at Manchester City and people wanting to knock you down with distractions. All we can do is concentrate on what we're there to do and that's play football and work hard in training."

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has written to Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa to express his sympathy for what happened and saying there was never any intention to injure his opponent, following a challenge last season that left the Frenchman with a broken leg.