Balotelli goes - and Mancini could follow him to Milan

So Mario has finally gone.

Left City for the club he has supported all his life.

It is a sad day for City but it could prove an even sadder one for Mario if he does not settle in quickly at Milan.

He has left his 'surrogate father' Mancini behind at City and he will certainly miss him.

Mancini is the only manager who has been able to control him (to an extent!) and he may not like working under Massimiliano Allegri, who is more hardline and will be less sympathetic to Mario and his idiosyncracies than Mancini.

I heard from a source close to Mario that his big hope is that Roberto will follow him to Milan in the summer - and there is a good chance that will happen.

If City don't win the league, Jose Mourinho is looming large over Mancini and could well replace him.

Then the surrogate father would be available to resume his work with his surrogate child in Milan.