Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted Mario Balotelli’s long-term future is at Eastlands as the striker himself denied rumours of a move back to Italy with Milan.

Balotelli, 20, scored a hat-trick as City overcame Aston Villa 4-0 on Tuesday to maintain their bid for the Premier League title.

The Italian striker has rarely been out of the headlines since arriving from European champions Inter in a £24 million pre-season move.

Balotelli has been involved in several on-field spats but Mancini is adamant his compatriot’s miserable on-pitch demeanour is just an act and that he is satisfied with life in England.

“After the first goal he celebrated, which is a step forward,” Mancini joked after the comprehensive home victory.

“He celebrated, OK, but it’s more important that he scored goals.

“Every player has his behaviour but I think he’s happy. He’s a different guy outside the pitch but he likes to give this hard, ‘don’t like to play’ image.”

Mancini added: “I think maybe he could be homesick because he’s 20 and it’s his first time away from his family and it’s normal to miss your family. I don’t think it’s a long-term problem.”

Balotelli, who has now scored eight times in 11 games for Man. City, said he could not understand all the fuss about his lack of goal celebrations.

“I am always happy, even when I don’t smile,” he said.

“But I feel a striker has to score. It is my job. That is why I don’t smile. I am still happy and I can score more.”

And he, too, dismissed talk of a return to Italy by saying: “I am very happy even if the journalists in Italy say I want to go to Milan.”

Mancini confirmed team striker Carlos Tevez was left on the bench against Aston Villa because of a minor hamstring problem but will be fit to return against Blackpool on Saturday.