Mario Balotelli spends £1,000 in a pub

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli put £1,000 behind the bar for patrons of a Manchester pub on Christmas Eve, according to The Sun.

The report claims that the 21-year-old visited the Tudor pub in the Manchester suburb of Peel Hall and chatted to a number of supporters.

Before leaving, the Italian insisted on putting up the four-figure sum for the customers.

Balotelli also appeared to be in a charitable mood when he later attended a Midnight Mass at St John's Church in Chorlton.

Accompanied by his girlfriend, the pair stayed for the carols and Balotelli is said to have put £200 in the collection tray after the service.