Manchester City star Mario Balotelli faces a massive repair bill over his recent home fire.

Balotelli faces a whopping £400,000 bill for the repair of his bathroom after the infamous firework incident at his £3million rented home.

Manchester City's eccentric striker has had a rocket from his landlord, who wants Balotelli to pay himself for the damages rather than go through insurance.

Balotelli's four-bedroom house suffered smoke damage and the bathroom was gutted in the fire, caused by a friend letting off the firework in the early hours on the eve of City's top-of-the-table derby clash at Old Trafford last month. Ironically, Balotelli sparkled in the match, scoring twice in a 6-1 win.

Two fire crews using breathing apparatus put out the blaze at the £7,500-a-month house in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire.

A source told The Sun: "There's nothing left of the designer bathroom but charred and melted remains. Thick smoke made the whole place uninhabitable. That's what has sent the damage costs spiralling.

"They were lucky to escape serious injury."