City's Balotelli faces six-week injury absence

Soccer Betting Lines

09/08/2010 - Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City announced on Wednesday that new signing Mario Balotelli will undergo knee surgery that could keep him out for up to six weeks.

Balotelli moved to City from Inter Milan in August, but after scoring in his debut against FC Timisoara, he suffered the injury in the same match.

"Striker Mario Balotelli is to undergo surgery on his injured knee that could rule him out for up to six weeks," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The Italian's injury is to the lateral meniscus, one of the two most crucial structures in the knee, and medical wisdom is to try and encourage the problem to heal without recourse to an operation."

"It was hoped that the symptoms would settle down, but once Balotelli began to step up his recovery program this week, it became clear that action would need to be taken."

The 20-year-old Balotelli has now flown to Milan for the operation, and he is likely to miss at least four league games, including a match with Chelsea, as well as the start of City's campaign in the Europa League.

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