Mario Balotelli has held an apparent farewell meal with friends at a Chinese restaurant in Manchester after growing homesick in the north west and expressing his desire to return to Italy following the birth of his first child.
Representatives from all three parties involved in the transfer have continually played down the prospect of a January move in public, yet they have been in almost daily contact as they look to resolve Balotelli's future.
Milan owner Gallianii: "Yesterday was 99.9% no, today is 99.5% no.
"It is a situation different from that of yesterday, but the bag is closed until tomorrow morning."