Balotelli was giving his marching orders for a studs-up challenge high on Kiev’s Goran Popov which left City to play with 10-men for over an hour.
Mancini is now considering whether or not to dump his volatile tyro from the squad to face Chelsea on Sunday.
The former Inter manager was angered by the 20-year-old’s apparent lack of discipline and blamed him for City’s Europa League exit.
Enforcer
And City’s midfield enforcer believes Balotelli will have to not make the same blunder again if he is to fulfil his undoubted potential.
“He is a young boy of 20 and he has to learn from his mistakes,” De Jong said.
“I told him, everyone told him. He is still part of the squad and has a lot of potential.
“He is a very good player but has to realise, on a professional level, you sometimes have to change your mentality.”
Experience
Balotelli is fortunate in that he can draw on the vast experience of team-mates such as Patrick Vieira, De Jong and Carlos Tevez.
And it would appear they all want to give him the benefit of their knowledge, so that he can maximise his ability.
“We are there to help him, not to criticise him or blast him away,” added the Dutch international.
“He is still a young lad and has a lot to learn. But he has experienced guys around him and has to listen to them.
“After the game he was angry and he was disappointed. Sometimes you make mistakes and Mario made his mistake. But he will get everything straight again.”
Original post:
Nigel De Jong – Mario Balotelli Will Learn