Balotelli out for ten days

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is set to be available to face Real Madrid in the Champions League following eye surgery.


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Mario Balotelli has had limited involvement for Manchester City this season



• Balotelli set for eye op




Balotelli had a minor operation on Wednesday in Italy to correct his vision due to problems he had encountered while using contact lenses. Reports had suggested he could be out for as long as a month, but the length of his absence will be far shorter.

"He had a few problems with contact lenses some years ago," surgeon Emanuele Scuri told Sky Sport Italia. "We waited for the defect to stabilise over the last four years and this was the right time to have the operation.

"His eyes did not tolerate the contact lenses and he had problems at the start of the season. I think in around ten days he should be ready to play again. Already this morning he asked if he could drive and I suggested he should get a lift until Thursday.

"We brought the operation forward by a day to avoid paparazzi. This surgery will enable Balotelli to see very well."

Balotelli therefore faces a battle to be fit to face for City's next game, against Stoke City in the Premier League on September 15, but is likely to be available to face Madrid at the Bernabeu in the teams' Champions League opener on September 18.