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Mario Balotelli: Man City will give striker another chance

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments501

Mancini praise for Mario Balotelli

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he is willing to give Mario Balotelli another chance but the striker needs to "deserve it".

Balotelli this week dropped tribunal action against City, who had given him a two-week fine for missing 12 games last season because of suspensions.

When asked if Balotelli would be given another opportunity, Mancini said: "Sure. I am his manager and, like the other players, if he deserves another chance I'll give him another chance. But Mario now needs to deserve this."

The hearing between the player and his representatives and the Premier League champions had been due to take place on Wednesday, but the issue was resolved following "amicable" talks on Tuesday night.

And Mancini believes the Italy international, 22, who will miss Saturday's match against Reading through illness, made the correct decision not to pursue his action against the club.

"This is an old situation and it is normal when someone does a mistake he should take his responsibilities and Mario did this. It's normal," added the 48-year-old manager.

"He [should] respect himself, not me, because it's important for him to respect himself, very important."

City began the disciplinary process after Balotelli was sent off against Arsenal in April 2012.

In total, he received nine yellow cards and three reds - one of them retrospective - during the season.

Last Saturday, Balotelli was left out of the squad that defeated Newcastle 3-1 at St James' Park.

After the match, Mancini revealed the striker was "not in good form" and that was the only reason he had been excluded.

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501 comments

  • Comment posted by U12036926, at 12:19 21 Dec 2012

    so presumably no one is interested in buying him then lol

  • Comment posted by Dr Truth, at 12:51 21 Dec 2012

    He's a product of the times, a giant ego without the talent to match, forget the hype and the media's eternal love of a flawed character, there's just nothing meaningful to him as a player, he bathes in a sea of lazy journalistic sound bites like "maverick genius", this is ego-food to a baffoon. All that said i think the most fundemental thing with him is that he's just not very bright,,,

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 12:39 21 Dec 2012

    The best thing city can do with him is sell him. He is a match winner one day, and a match loser the next. Has a lot of growing up to do, and a lot of learning too.

    Has great potential, no doubt about that. Will he ever fulfill that potential though. Not so far, and patience is running out with him.

    A lot more trouble than he is worth.

  • Comment posted by redwillow, at 12:35 21 Dec 2012

    At City the players are bigger than the manager and often last a little longer. No top manager would put up with the antics of Balotelli or Tevez last year...they would be out pure and simple. City need to learn that class comes before cash or they will remain the subject of many many jokes.

  • Comment posted by JayM, at 12:40 21 Dec 2012

    Let's not beat around the bush here. The first thing Balotelli needs to do is remove that enormous chip on his shoulder.

  • Comment posted by fallenstar, at 12:49 21 Dec 2012

    lol interesting that Fergie did a Harvard seminar this week in which he stated if anyone crosses the line..he wastes no time in getting rid of a player..one bad apple upsets the cart.it seems at Man City Tevez can refuse to play and still be allowed back into the team and Balotelli take City to a tribunal then beg him not to proceed with it.City are a complete joke of a club..desperate for honours

  • Comment posted by Flankerman, at 15:06 21 Dec 2012

    Balotelli is an overpaid halfwit and doesn't deserve to play in the premier league.

  • Comment posted by JayM, at 12:23 21 Dec 2012

    Out soon in all good book shops, ‘How I Committed Career Suicide’ by Roberto Mancini.

  • Comment posted by nj2810, at 14:51 21 Dec 2012

    @170 Fergie put up with Cantona because he delivered on the pitch, something that Balotelli has rarely done!

    Cantona had one incident of petulance and many example of genius - the absolute opposite of Balotelli who's a liability to MCFC not an asset!

  • Comment posted by U14566152, at 14:56 21 Dec 2012

    Over paid, over egged, and over here! Get rid!

  • Comment posted by Weallfollowunited, at 14:22 21 Dec 2012

    #140
    Balotelli does offer something different to just running.

    He offers not running at all.

  • Comment posted by U15494470, at 17:07 21 Dec 2012

    Mario is just a silly little boy over indulged and overpaid by his employer. Its time to jog him on. Him and his kind damage the game. Its soap not football any longer. No wonder rugby attendances are up.

  • Comment posted by grahame, at 22:10 21 Dec 2012

    @361.Blacksal9888
    You really are deluded and so wrong. If he was white and British would you still support him and his petulant behaviour. Get it into your head he is critisized for being a petulant spoilt brat and for no other reason. If Mourhino can't control him and got rid of him is he racist too also the Italy team manager dropped him because of his attitude is he a racist as well get real

  • Comment posted by U15531376, at 23:00 21 Dec 2012

    I'm bored of listening to Mancini publicly bang on about Balotelli. He played for him at Inter and was very much the same there but he still signed him for City.

    He knew what to expect before he bought him and he still goes on about him.

  • Comment posted by U15129783, at 17:29 21 Dec 2012

    @260, oh the race card... :( silly Alan... how do you know all of that about rooney? because it was reported, heavily... :( silly Alan.
    rooney plays well 90% of the time mario plays well 1% of the time i.e ive watched 100 games with him involved the germany game in euro 2012 was the only time ive seen him play well = 1%... :( silly Alan.

  • Comment posted by Drasticus Maximus, at 00:28 22 Dec 2012

    eccles45
    'Mancini has disciplined Balotelli. End of story'
    ---------------------------------
    You get everyone elses posts moderated you then post the above. You have nothing to add but you are going to police everybody else. Its no more fun reading endless 'this comment has been removed' posts then the posts you have deemed complaint worthy.

    Grow up please.

  • Comment posted by U1742008, at 22:53 21 Dec 2012

    after Euro 2012 the time to sell was then now I can only think that AC Milan would be the only team willing to take the risk with him. I think he must be into double figures in terms of chances to sort himself out but sometimes you just cant get the message through and City should sell him in Jan they have cover anyway I actually think Mancini believes he can sort him out it might cost him his job

  • Comment posted by U15410283, at 22:19 21 Dec 2012

    Ballotelli's terrible attitude is seen time and time again. When he scored his first goal for italy in the euros, he wanted to run over and have a go at the Manager, and had to be grabbed by his teammates to stop him.

    He is a spolit petulant brat, and of no use to a team unless he sheds the giant chips on his shoulders. .

  • Comment posted by grahame, at 21:42 21 Dec 2012

    @343.Blacksal9888
    You seem to be the only person concerned with Balotelli's colour or nationality which means you have NO argument. The fact he is a petulent clown is the issue not anything else.The others you mention have been castigated every bit as much (and they deserved it). Balotelli will be the end of Mancicni's career at city It's a pity his loyalty isn't recipricated. He should just go

  • Comment posted by U14902947, at 21:25 21 Dec 2012

    337.. Cry me a river...... You not going with the racist card any more? What a shock..

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