Manchester: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits he sometimes has trouble in dealing with eccentric striker Mario Balotelli and hopes the young Italian will focus on realising his potential.
The 21-year-old has drawn attention for his off-the-field escapades since his move from Inter, memorably unveiling a T-shirt bearing the words 'Why always me?' after scoring in City’s 6-1 demolition of Manchester United in October days after he hit the headlines when a firework was let off in his home.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Mancini explained: "I told him, 'Always you, Mario, because whenever there is trouble, you are inside it'.
"He said, ‘Mister, it is not my fault'. I said, 'No, I suppose it is my fault'. He said, 'No, it is not your fault but I was asleep when it happened'.
"He is a strange man. A good man, a kind man, but I do not understand him. It feels as if I need my own special translator, just for Mario."
The City boss, who worked with Balotelli when the two were at San Siro, admitted his concern that the forward may fail to realise the full potential of his talent.
"He is an incredible player but he does not understand his strength, what he could achieve as a player. Maybe he needs more time," Mancini mused.
"Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, these are the players whose talent is up there with Mario, but they are clever, they know the career is short and it is no use waiting until you are 40 before you realise how good you were.
"Mario first played when he was 16. He has, at most, 15 years as a top player and he is 21 now. He does not know how lucky he is at the moment. But he needs to arrive at that point soon."
The 47-year-old added that he does not usually seek to use fines as a way to rein in Balotelli’s antics, preferring to accept that his off-field actions may come as part of the package and hopes the Italy international will eventually focus more on his game.
"I don't fine players," he stated.
"We speak. OK, maybe after three or four times, there is a fine, but I have my own ways. Mario was on the bench for a month at the start of the season, he did not play for five or six games. That was disciplinary. He was not working well enough.
"He does not get it all his way but top players are often different men.
"I remember Paul Gascoigne at Lazio. You will always find these guys in football, but usually they are the best players, too.
"I just hope Mario can understand how much he will improve when he becomes a man. He could be so important for me."
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