Mancini: It's time for Balotelli to grow up

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told troubled striker Mario Balotelli to cut the "crap" and concentrate on expressing his talents.

Balotelli has been involved in a series of controversial incidents since his summer move from Inter Milan and was recently splashed across the papers after throwing a dart in the direction of some of the club's youth players.

On the pitch, he has been booked nine times and sent off twice in his debut season in England and his needless red card against Dynamo Kiev was blamed for City's early exit from the Europa League.

"He is 20 and at that age people do crap things," Mancini said in The Sun, "but maybe now the time has come for him to help himself and to understand the mistakes he is making. Otherwise he risks throwing away his abilities which are immense. He has scored some beautiful goals this season.

"He should think only about expressing his talents on the pitch and leaving to one side the other matters which have nothing to do with football. If he does not, then everybody in England will begin to make him a target - starting off with the referees.

"I understand him and everybody has infinite patience with Mario. Everyone at Manchester City has always helped him and wish him the best."

Balotelli was fined two weeks' wages following his kick-out at Dynamo's Goran Popov last month and faces disciplinary action over the dart-throwing incident.

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Tottenham Consider Move for Unhinged Manchester City Striker Mario Balotelli

White Hart Lane boss wants Eastlands youngster.

Real Madrid are watching Mario Balotelli’s situation at Manchester City. AC Milan remain favourites for the ex-Inter striker, who is expected to be dumped by City in the summer. However, his former coach at Inter, Jose Mourinho, is also watching developments, according to Milan sources. Tottenham are also being linked with the Italy international, though those close to Balotelli say if he is to leave City, it will be to return home to Milan.

SOURCE: Tribalfootball

Is Harry Redknapp’s love of playing the transfer game really likely to stretch as far as to make a move for troubled Italian Mario Balotelli? Tottenham’s current quartet of strikers have struggled badly to find the back of the net in Premier League action this term. Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe have netted just 11 Premier League goals between them this term and as a result the White Hart Lane boss is reportedly frantically searching for new additions.

Recent comments from Roberto Mancini suggest that he too has ran out of patience with the 20 year old former Inter Milan man and interest from Real Madrid would be surprising as Jose Mourinho would surely no better than most just what a disturbing influence Balotelli can be in the dressing room.

Even a move to AC Milan would make little sense given the myriad of striking options available to San Siro boss Massimiliano Allegri.

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Balotelli: Meeting Ronaldo would change me

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli had claimed that he would end his wild ways if was given the chance to meet Brazilian legend Ronaldo.

Balotelli, 20, has attracted criticism for his behaviour since joining City in the summer and has been left out of Italy's Euro 2012 squad for the matches against Slovenia and Ukraine due to his sending off for his club against Dynamo Kiev.

However, the former Inter Milan star has maintained that he would change his ways if he could talk to his idol face-to-face.

"Introduce me to Ronaldo and I swear I'll behave to the end of my playing career," he told Le Iene. "I never met him, so you know when you see the idol of a lifetime it can change your way of thinking? There are many great players, but Ronaldo was the greatest and so one word from him is worth a thousand from the others."

Balotelli also jumped to his own defence, claiming that his behaviour has improved and that fans would soon start to see the full range of his talent.

"I already behave myself fairly well, but I'll try to stop doing those stupid little things,'' he added. ''It happens. You'll soon see the real Mario on the field!"

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