Super Mario set to be sold
ROBERTO MANCINI is ready to sanction the sale of Mario Balotelli after the Manchester City manager privately accepted defeat in his persistent attempts to change the controversial Italy striker’s errant ways.
Although Mancini said publicly yesterday that he retained faith in Balotelli and did not want to sell the player in the wake of their training ground fight, the City manager is believed to have finally sided with colleagues who have wanted to offload the 22- year- old for some time.
Mancini had made it something of a personal mission to try to improve Balotelli’s behaviour in the belief that his fellow Italian has the talent to become one of the best players in the world. But the bust-up appears to have proven the final straw and the manager will reluctantly instruct the club to sell the forward at the earliest opportunity.
Nonetheless, it seems improbable that City will admit publicly that they want to sell Balotelli amid concerns about further damaging his transfer value, which is already likely to have been hit by the player’s constant brushes with controversy and his increasingly poor form.
AC Milan are thought to be considering making a formal bid for Balotelli, although City may do well to recoup even half the £23 million they paid Inter Milan for the striker in August 2010, especially as the player’s £170,000-a-week wages are likely to prove another stumbling block.
As such, a loan move could not be discounted. Three years ago, City loaned Robinho, another problematic forward, to Santos for six months before Milan signed the Brazilian in a permanent deal in August 2010.
Balotelli was expected to be included in City’s squad to face Watford in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium overnight, after missing the club’s previous four matches with a virus.
Before then, he had been omitted from the 18-man squad to face Newcastle United on December 15 because of his poor attitude in training, less than a week after being substituted early in the second half of City’s 3-2 derby defeat by Manchester United for apparently failing to follow Mancini’s instructions on the field.
Although Balotelli’s behaviour has become almost impossible to defend, the player’s state of mind has not been helped by turmoil in his private life.
Balotelli has become embroiled in an ugly public slanging match with his former girlfriend, Raffaella Fico, with whom she claims he has a baby girl, Pia, who was born last month. Balotelli’s adoptive parents, Franco and Silvia, even waded into the row by writing an open letter to an Italian magazine last month in which they accused Fico of cashing in on her relationship with the player.
Asked if he felt Balotelli’s personal life was affecting his football, Mancini said: ‘‘I don’t know if it is true or not. I think he should understand that the career of a player is very short.
‘‘He is 22, but three, four or five years can pass in one second and I hope one day arrives when he understands the quality he has.
‘‘It is not easy to manage him. The problem could be himself. If he doesn’t change, for him it will be very difficult in the future. For him, not me. Mario could stay with me one day, one month, five years. He is 22 years old and he needs to change.’’
Mancini had reacted furiously when Balotelli kicked Scott Sinclair, his team-mate, at the end of training yesterday, a challenge that witnesses claimed was horrendous and could have left the City winger with a serious injury.
It is not easy to manage him. The problem could be himself. If he doesn’t change, for him it will be very difficult in the future. For him, not me. Mario could stay with me one day, one month, five years. He is 22 years old and he needs to change.
Manchester City manager
Roberto Mancini
Mancini said, half-jokingly, yesterday that the foul would have warranted ‘‘two red cards’’ had it happened during a game, although it was Balotelli’s refusal to adhere to his manager’s request for him to leave the training field that most angered Mancini. The City manager had grabbed Balotelli and tried to drag him off the pitch, only for a struggle to ensue between the pair, one that ended with members of Mancini’s coaching staff intervening.
‘‘I wanted Mario to leave the pitch, Mario said, ‘No, I don’t want to’,’’ Mancini explained. ‘‘ I know it is unusual for a manager to do this, but I’m not regretful.’’
Asked if part of the problem was that Balotelli believed he would always be forgiven, Mancini replied: ‘‘I don’t forgive him always. Sometimes he was out [of the team] for three or four weeks. But I hope he can understand. Compared to other times, what he did [on Friday] was nothing.’’