Roberto Mancini insists Mario Balotelli will not leave Manchester City during the transfer window, but conceded that he is not yet worth a place in the side.

Balotelli was ill for three days following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium, for which he was an unused substitute.

Although back training the striker is not fit enough to be included for today’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Stoke.

Yet even when Balotelli has recovered he will have to fight to start under Mancini.

“Mario should work well and try to get his place in the team because at the moment he doesn’t play for many reasons,” he said. “I hope he can help us to win . . . crucial games in Premier League and FA Cup.”

Mancini’s comments came on the day Italy coach Cesare Prandelli spoke about Balotelli to Gazetta dello Sport. “The hope remains the same,” he said, “that Mario decides to finally invest in himself; that he says, ‘okay, now I’ll . . . let only my football do the talking’.”

Milan’s vice-president, Adriano Galliani, has suggested that if City lower their valuation of about €28 million Balotelli could be signed.

But Mancini dismissed this and any chance of him moving away on loan. “No it is not true . . . Mario stays here,” he said. “We didn’t have any requests about Mario or other players.”

The Italian is unsure whether City will add any players during the window. “I don’t know but . . . we can’t sell any players,” he said.

While Preston, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea have all won the FA Cup and league double, City have not. “Here it is difficult to win one trophy,” said Mancini.

The Italian will field his strongest side at Stoke.

“In Italy we used to do this. In England, the FA Cup is more important, a very important trophy,” he said. City have drawn their last three matches against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, and not won any of the past six. Guardian Service