Mario Balotelli is said to be “delighted” after becoming a father for the first time after his ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico gave birth to a baby girl.
Little Pia had been due on Christmas Day but was born just under three weeks early after Raffaella Fico was rushed to hospital after having contractions while at home with her mum.
Mario Balotelli himself was not present at the birth but Raffaella Fico’s brother Francesco and her mum Pia were and the baby weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs, 4 oz (3.8 kg) and was registered in her mother’s name.
There was no official comment from Mario Balotelli following the “nappy” news although sources close to the Manchester City star said he was “delighted” with the birth which took place at the private Clinica Mediterranea in Naples.
Ex underwear model Raffaella Fico and Mario Balotelli had split up in April following a furious doorstep bust up after she flew to Manchester from Italy to confront him over his cheating.
Two months later Raffaella Fico called Mario Balotelli to say she was expecting his child and initially he refused to accept the baby was his and demanded a DNA test to prove he was the father.
The couple then played out a furious slanging match via the Italian media over the summer with a shocked Raffaella Fico expressing anger and surprise that he should question whether he was the father.
Mario Balotelli is said to be delighted after becoming a father for the first time after his ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico gave birth to a baby girl
Two months ago Mario Balotelli then revealed he was going to “try again” with Raffaella Fico and he flew to her home near Naples where the two were pictured kissing passionately on the balcony of her home.
However, since then Mario Balotelli has not been in touch with Raffaella Fico and only this week she had issued an ultimatum to the player saying: “If you love our child and me then marry me.”
On Thursday a source at the clinic said: “Pia was born on Wednesday night and both mother and baby are doing well.”
Raffaella Fico, who has dated Cristiano Ronaldo in the past and also appeared in Italy’s version of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, is said to have sold exclusive first pictures of Pia to glossy Italian weekly Chi – the magazine that published photographs of a topless Kate Middleton this summer.
Raffaella Fico, Mario Balotelli’s ex-girlfriend, took to the catwalk to show off her baby bump at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday afternoon.
Raffaella Fico, 24, sashayed up and down the runway in a series of bikinis that showed off her growing bump.
Modelling for Pin Up Stars, Raffaella Fico did what she does best as she got back to her day job as a professional model.
With her long dark brown hair given extra volume she combed it back and swept it to one side as she wanted the sole focus to be on her bump.
Instead of covering up in a full swimming costume she opted to wear a few bikinis to highlight her swollen tummy.
Raffaella Fico, Mario Balotelli’s ex-girlfriend, took to the catwalk to show off her baby bump at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday afternoon
The model walked down the catwalk in a strapless yellow top with matching bottom, and added a bright green lace belt around her hips.
Raffaella Fico also wore a pair of gold strappy heels which she teamed with matching chunky bracelets and necklace.
She also slipped into a white bikini that featured a cartoon picture of a monkey on each cup.
Czech model Petra Němcová also took to the catwalk and looked more natural as she displayed a toned torso but also sported big hair.
Petra Němcová, 33, may be the more popular model internationally but Raffaella Fico was given special recognition by the designer at the end of the show.
Mario Balotelli and Raffaella Fico split in April after a tempestuous year-long relationship ended with a doorstep row, and then at the start of the month, she revealed she was almost four months pregnant and the baby was his.
Initially it was reported that Mario Balotelli was “delighted” with the news but then the footballer issued a statement in which he said he would “accept his full responsibilities once a paternity test” had been taken to establish if he really was the father.
Raffaella Fico’s then wrote a passionate letter, which was published in glossy Italian weekly Chi, in which she spoke in loving terms of Mario Balotelli and made it clear that she still has feelings for him – even though he has insisted there is no chance of a reconciliation.
She wrote: “This child I desire with all my heart and I want it because it is not a child that arrived by chance but instead it is the fruit of love between two people and you know well what I am talking about.
“This letter was the only way I could speak to you. I am happy to take the DNA test but I still have the text messages you sent me from Krakow (during Euro 2012) in which you said you were happy with the news I had given you.”
