'I'll accept full responsibility after a paternity test': Mario Balotelli

Super Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli is demanding a paternity test to establish if he really is the father of pregnant former girlfriend Raffaella Fico - which has sparked a bitter attack from her furious brother. Raffaella, 27, revealed earlier this week that she was expecting the fiery 21-year-old Manchester City striker's baby and that she was almost four months pregnant.

The couple split in April after a huge doorstep row and earlier reports this week said Balotelli was 'delighted' at the news but now speaking for the first time in a statement he said he would only 'accept full responsibility' for the baby after a DNA test proved he was the father.

He said: 'A few days ago I learned from third parties that Raffaella was pregnant. So I decided to contact her and it was only after I had questioned her that she confirmed it was true. I am very disappointed as I don't think it is right that I should learn this after four months.'

'I will accept full responsibility after a paternity test. I don't really want to speak publicly about my private life but I find that I have to explain once and for all, the nature of my relationship with Raffaella Fico.'  'We split up in April and since then we have not seen or spoken to each other. I had nothing more to do with Raffaella's life and she had nothing more to do with mine.

'Raffaella knew then and she knows now, that I have no intention of getting back together with her. Out of respect for her I have never spoken about our relationship, even when things have been said that are not true.'

'I don't understand why Raffaella did not contact me to tell me about this - and I also find it disappointing that money is already being made from this with photographs and interviews being bought and sold.'

'I believe that Raffaella is already famous enough without having to exploit this story for publicity. This is the last time I am going to speak about this and I have no intention of responding or replying to anything Raffaella writes or says.' Dailymail