Balotelli: ´Mancini is like a dad to me´

Manchester City attacker Mario Balotelli has hailed the impact manager Roberto Mancini has had on him during his career so far, comparing him to a father-figure.

The 20-year-old also spoke of how he is enjoying his time at the club at the moment, explaining that he is feeling good about his overall game and confident that he can improve every time he goes out on to the pitch.

Speaking to City’s official website, the former Inter man said: ‘To be inside the stadium, on the pitch with all the people around you in a game like the United one is a great feeling.”

“I feel I can get better every game I play.”

Balotelli was answering questions on City’s website that had been asked via Twitter by fans and soon spoke of how Mancini’s faith in him makes him want to perform even better.

“It’s good because when a manager wants you and has faith in you it is different to when just a club wants you,” explained the controversial Italian.

“When a manager wants you, he trusts you, so he gives you more chances.”

“Mancini is like a dad to me. Mancini wants me so I have to be one of the best in the squad so I don’t disappoint him.”

Balotelli had no hesitation nominating his favourite moment in a City shirt: “Winning the FA Cup, for sure.”

The three-time Serie A winner nominated Ronaldo as his idol – but he was quick to emphasise he was from Brazil rather than Portugal.

“Ronaldo; the Brazilian one,” he said.

Despite scoring his first goal against Manchester United in a 6-1 drubbing at the weekend, Balotelli claimed his favourite goal for City was either one of two against Aston Villa.

“The Aston Villa one from this year, or maybe even the one I got against Villa last year, when I was blonde,” he said.