Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has admitted that he was once keen on taking Mario Balotelli back to the San Siro.

Moratti sanctioned the sale of the Italian striker to Manchester City during the summer of 2010.

However, the president has confirmed that there was a stage where he made an unsuccessful bid to resign the 21-year-old.

"I don't deny that I planned on bringing him back to Inter," Moratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I would gladly make another bid for him again, but Manchester City had the right to say no. They wanted to hold him tight."

Balotelli scored 28 goals during his stint with Inter.