Roberto Mancini has admitted he would “probably” sell Mario Balotelli this summer after the striker lost the plot again in Manchester City’s costly Barclays Premier League at Arsenal.
City boss Mancini also appeared to suggest Balotelli would not play again for him this season, although the club later claimed he said that because he expected the Football Association to throw the book at the controversial 21-year-old.
Balotelli will serve a ban of at least three matches after his sending off in the 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium and Mancini seemed to call on the FA to take further action against his own player for a knee-high challenge on Alex Song that went unpunished.
Asked for how long he could put up with Balotelli’s antics, Mancini said, “I am finished. We have six games and he will not play in the next six games.”
Pushed further on whether he would try to sell Balotelli at the end of the season, Mancini replied, “Probably – but I don’t know. It depends, because Balotelli is a fantastic player.
“I can continue to play with Mario on the pitch. Every time, we risk one sent off, like today.
“But he can score also in the last minute.”
Asked if the authorities should examine the incident with Song that referee Martin Atkinson and assistant Peter Kirkup took no action over, Mancini said “I hope so” and admitted the striker deserved a lengthy ban
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