Former Inter striker Mario Balotelli admits his full Premier League debut for Manchester City against Wolves last weekend gave him a fresh insight into the unforgiving nature and pace of the English game.

But the Italian, who was on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat and finished a frustrating match with a yellow card to his name, said that won’t deter him from aiming to become “the best player in the world”.

“It was difficult for me on Saturday because it was my first full game after all the injuries,” Balotelli told the club’s website www.mcfc.co.uk.

“The tackles are harder and the referees don’t seem to blow very often for fouls – in Italy, when someone makes contact with you, it’s a foul, but that’s not the case in England.

“It was my first game and it wasn’t easy for me because I need to get to know my team-mates on the pitch and understand their movement and that comes with time.”

Despite the challenges, the 20-year-old Italy international has no doubt where he wants his career path to take him whilst at City.

“I want to be the best player in the world. It is good to have ambition. I’ve said in the past that I don’t care what other people want or expect of me because I know what I want,” he added.

“I will always give everything because I want to become the best. That is my aim and I am determined to make it happen.

“I am here at City to play Champions League football, that’s the competition I want to be in and that is what all the players here want to play in.”