Mancini: ´I could punch Balotelli´

Roberto Mancini is so frustrated with Mario Balotelli that he has to stop himself from punching him.

The Manchester City manager said that had he played alongside his compatriot, rather than managed him, the pair would have clashed every day.

Mancini told The Daily Mirror: “I told Mario, ‘If you played with me 10 years ago I’d give to you every day maybe one punch in your head’.”

Balotelli was involved in a car crash in Manchester city centre on Thursday and just last week he clashed with team-mate Aleksandar Kolarov on the field.

These incidents are the latest in a long line of incidents for the striker has but his manager believes he can still realise his talent.

“His problem is concentration, but I work with him every day,” the City boss said.

“I don’t speak with him every day – otherwise I would need a psychologist – but I speak with him because I don’t want him to lose his quality.

“Mario can be one of the top players in Europe. I don’t want him to lose his talent.”

Mancini, who openly revealed he does not trust the former Inter striker earlier this week, also insisted Balotelli’s spat with Kolarov was over and done with the moment the game had finished.

“What happened with Mario and Kolarov on the pitch, these situations can happen in difficult moments between two team-mates,” Mancini said.

“It’s not a good thing but this can happen when you are so nervous in a difficult moment. But after the game everything was finished.

“But I’m not worried (by Balotelli’s conduct). What is important is that after the game everything was okay.

“We didn’t have any problems between Mario and Kolarov. I don’t like this but I can understand this situation can happen.”