MILAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mario Balotelli has insisted that he will stay at AC Milan this season to prepare for the World Cup.

Reports emerged over Christmas suggesting that the Milan club president Silvio Berlusconi had requested Balotelli to be put on the market for sale.

The 23-year-old dismissed those reports and claimed that he won' t be going anywhere this month.

"I am staying at Milan," he said. "I have to get ready for the World Cup and stay calm."

The striker, though, did not make any promise about his future after the tournament in Brazil.