Balotelli involved in car crash as he went home from New Year's Eve celebrations

Mario Balotelli's new year has got off to a bumpy start as the controversial Italian striker has been involved in a car crash.

According to Corriere della Sera, Balotelli's new Fiat 500 Abarth ended up smashing into a gate of a bakery not far from his home at 5am on Wednesday morning after his friend, who was driving, made a wrong maneuver and clipped the curb.

Balotelli, 29, and his friend both emerged from the accident unscathed but the car suffered severe damage to its front axle.

The Brescia forward was returning home from celebrating the New Year with friends in a city nightclub at the time of the crash.

Balotelli left the car on the street and walked the few hundred yards back to his home in Mompiano.

A tow truck later came to remove the car, which is expected to be written off.

Brescia President Massimo Cellino, meanwhile, has insisted that Balotelli will not be sold in January.

Balotelli, who has scored four times in 12 games for his boyhood club this season, has attracted interest from several clubs in Turkey.