Balotelli on borrowed time in Manchester

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

REUTERS photo

Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City future was in the balance after manager Roberto Mancini admitted his patience with the striker was wearing thin.

Balotelli was sent off for the third time this season in the 89th minute of City’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday that left them eight points behind leaders Manchester United with six games left and hopes of a first English title in 44 years all but extinguished.

Mancini has repeatedly backed Balotelli, despite the player attracting controversy on and off the pitch.
But after Sunday’s match he insisted his compatriot must change his ways while admitting Balotelli, who was red-carded for a foul on Bacary Sagna, could be sold come the end of this season.

“We have six games and he will not play in the next six games,” Mancini said of Balotelli. 

“But I love him as a guy, I love him as a player. He’s not a bad guy. He’s a fantastic player.

“But, at this moment, I’m very sorry because he continues to lose his talent, his quality. I hope, for him, that he can understand that he’s in a bad way for his future, and he can change his behavior in the future.”