Inter Milan sensation Mario Balotelli has turned down the chance to represent Ghana as he want to play for the Italy national team in the future.

The 17-year-old burst onto the scene a few weeks ago when he scored twice in Turin as Inter defeated Juventus in the Coppa Italia.

The striker is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the whole of Europe, and it is only expected to be a matter of time until he becomes a regular in the Inter first team.

Balotelli’s life story is a very interesting one. He was born in Palermo to Ghanaian immigrants, but at the age of just three a court ruling entrusted him to the Balotelli family who lived in Brescia.

Due to his background, the Ghana football federation has attempted to call-up Balotelli to represent them, however Balotelli has decided that he wants to play for Italy.

“The Black Stars asked Mario to accept a call-up to the national side, where he would have been a first-choice, but he declined,” Balotelli’s brother and agent Corrado revealed in the Guerin Sportivo.

“He just didn’t want to lose the chance to play for Italy in the future.”

Such is Balotelli’s potential that Inter are keen to tie the teenager down to a new, long-term deal at San Siro. “For now there is nothing on the table,” Corrado explained.

“I have heard that we will be signing a renewal until 2013, but we think we will talk about it further when Mario is legally an adult and can get his Italian citizenship.”

Balotelli will receive such privileges when he turns 18-years-old on August 12.