Mario Balotelli has described his time at Manchester City as the best of his career and revealed he would return to the club "for free" if possible.

Now plying his trade in Ligue 1 with OGC Nice, the temperamental striker added he hopes City run away with the Premier League title this season under manager Pep Guardiola, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MailOnline's Alex Martin):

"I love City, the fans and the club. I'd happily go back there for free. It was the best year of my life, even if the city is a little difficult to live in. In football terms, City was spectacular. I am so happy they are going strong with Pep Guardiola and hope they win the title with 20 games to spare...

"I would like to get back to having a strong squad behind me. I want to play in the Champions League and win something. The aim is to go back to a big club. To win something important again. I am certainly not thinking about the end of my career yet. I am 27 years old, so I can play another six or seven years at the top level."

As he has at almost every club he has been with, Balotelli caused controversy during his time at City between 2010 and 2013.

The 27-year-old left for AC Milan in January 2013 under something of a cloud after having won an FA Cup and a Premier League title with City—he provided the assist for Sergio Aguero's famous title-winning goal in 2011-12.

The Italian's career has been revitalised at Nice, with whom he has netted 25 league goals in 36 appearances since joining in August 2016.

It is clear, though, he is eager to leave from the French outfit, and it is little surprise he would be open to returning to City, who are 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Balotelli's contract with Nice expires next summer, when he will likely be available for free.

But it seems improbable City would be willing or eager to take him back.

They already have an excess of impressive attacking talent and, in Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero, boast two of the most effective strikers in the English top flight.

It also seems unlikely Guardiola would work well with a player as unpredictable and undisciplined as Balotelli.