It will allend in tears for this player....or us.
Grow up Mario! Balotelli should start playing for Manchester City before thinking about leaving, snipes Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini (R), Manchester City's Italian manager, speaks to Manchester City's Italian forward Mario Balotelli
Not happy: Mancini talks to Balotelli after the striker's sending off at West Browich
Roberto Mancini has taken a swipe at Mario Balotelli after the Manchester City striker fuelled talk of a swift return to Italy.
Eastlands boss Mancini is unhappy about the 20-year-old's conduct on and off the pitch and demanded better for his £23million summer signing from Inter Milan.
Balotelli refused to quash reports linking him to AC Milan this week by committing himself to City only till the end of the season.
But Mancini hit back: 'He must start to play before he leaves. He has a five-year contract and he has only played four games.'
Balotelli is suspended for Sunday's game against Fulham following his sending off against West Bromwich Albion earlier this month.
Mancini, who previously guided the striker through the ranks in Italy, insisted: 'He must change his mentality.
'He must think about playing because if he plays here he can score every game.
'He can't afford to talk with the referee. He needs to think about his job because he can make a difference on the pitch.'
It has been an eventful week for the youngster. He watched his boyhood team AC Milan beat his former side Inter in the derby at the San Siro last Sunday.
He was then photographed at the same restaurant as Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani, who admitted he would like to work with the Italy international.
Then, in midweek, Balotelli was the target of racists while playing for the national team.
Target: Balotelli was racially abused by Italy supporters when playing against Romania
Target: Balotelli was racially abused by Italy supporters when playing against Romania
'In the world there are a lot of stupid people,' said Mancini of the abuse. 'I am not worried about it because he is a strong character.'
Mancini is more wooried about satisfying City's ambitious owners.
After weeks of playing down the club's chances of mounting a title challenge, the Italian now insists his team can end the season with silverware.
'We are in fourth position, three points behind United but we must check at the end of the season,' said Mancini.
Joe Hart injured
Swift recovery: Hart could be fit this weekend despite injuring his back on England duty
'At the end of the season I think we will get into the Champions League and probably we will win something. This is my opinion because I believe we have improved a lot.'
Others may argue otherwise. Certainly Hughes felt his side would have achieved their objectives if they had been given a chance last term.
Owner Sheik Mansour and chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak had other ideas, which means Hughes will be fully motivated this weekend, even if Mancini is eager the contest should not become a personal battle.
'I don't know if Mark Hughes has a point to prove but Sunday is Fulham against Manchester City, not Mancini against Hughes,' he said.
'Maybe it means more, I don't know. But I am sure they always try to win, whether they play against Manchester City or Newcastle, who they played last Saturday.'
Mancini also has to combat claims of negativity, which contrasts sharply with the generally attractive football they produced under Hughes.
Arguments are still raging over the former Inter Milan coach's decision to replace Carlos Tevez with Gareth Barry last weekend, which Mancini insists was not a conservative mood.
Mancini has doubts over England duo Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards but he reported good news over goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was forced to miss the friendly defeat to France after suffering a back spasm in training on Tuesday.
'Joe is getting better,' said Mancini. 'I think he will be available for Sunday.'
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