Italy's biggest-selling newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has been forced to apologise for depicting Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli as King Kong in a cartoon.

The Italy frontman, who scored a penalty in the Azzurri's Euro 2012 quarter-final victory over England on Sunday, has been at the centre of a race row in his homeland.

In a statement, the newspaper said: "We can honestly say it was not among the best products of our talented cartoonist.

"At this time, a measure of prudence and good taste are necessary because everything, absolutely everything, can be misinterpreted. The newspaper is for those who read it and hence, if certain readers found the cartoon offensive, we apologise."

Meanwhile, Balotelli and his national teammates are preparing to take on Germany in the semi-final of the Euros tomorrow.