Mario Balotelli's agent has dismissed talk the striker could leave Manchester City, but admits "you can never rule anything out".
Mino Raiola, the Italian striker's agent, had suggested the 21-year-old forward could depart City and the Premier League in the wake of Balotelli's four-game ban for stamping on Spurs' midfielder Scott Parker as he felt "persecuted".
However, Raiola has now insisted that Balotelli will stay with City for at least another season.
Raiola told The Sun: "As far as Mario is concerned, we have a strategy for him to stay at Manchester City for three years - which we are respecting in full.
"We hope that he will continue to play for them next season, even though you can never rule anything out."
Balotelli has been linked with a return to Serie A on a number of occasions since his switch to City in 2010, the striker's current deal at the Etihad Stadium runs until 2015.
Meanwhile, Brazilian side Corinthians have been linked with a loan swoop for outcast Carlos Tevez.
The South American club had been keen to secure a permanent deal for the former City captain but were unable to finance a move.
However, Corinthians will wait until the close of the Russian transfer window to avoid a bidding war with big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala.
However, it remains to be seen whether City will sanction a loan exit and the Argentine striker is now thought to be keen on a summer move to Milan after seeing moves to both AC Milan and Inter Milan fall through in January.