‘It’s time he started to think with his head’ – Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini takes a swipe at Mario Balotelli

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes that Mario Balotelli is damaging his reputation and prospects, and has called on the young striker to be more disciplined in his approach to his career.

The 20-year-old’s most recent transgression was getting sent off in the second leg of a Europa League double-header against Dinamo Kiev, which saw the Eastlands outfit play with 10 men for the majority of the game.

City still managed to win the second leg 1-0, thanks to a goal from Aleksandar Kolarov in the first-half. But it was not enough to send them through following a first leg defeat in Kiev, and they crashed out of the tournament 2-1 on aggregate.

Former Inter striker Balotelli has come in for harsh criticism since his high-footed challenge on Goran Popov, and now his Italian boss believes the club’s £24 million signing needs to improve his attitude.

When quizzed if Balotelli was casting a cloud over his reputation, Mancini is quoted by The Mirror as saying: “Yes, this is true. I trusted him 100 per cent but after this latest incident it’s very difficult to trust him.

“If he continues like this it is very difficult. I think it’s time for him to stop losing control. I don’t like this.

“I think that he’s a young player but it’s time he started to think with his head.

“Time to use his brain because if not it is very ­difficult.

“He’s a fantastic player but I don’t deserve this situation and neither does the club or the rest of the squad.

“Balotelli is not repaying my trust at the moment. He should work more to repay me.”

Mancini added: “I work every day with him. And I hope that every day he can improve like a player, improve like a man.

“Our big ­players are not important just because they play well. They are important because they have to help their team-mates when we have a difficult game.

“Every day I speak with him. I know him very well. I know that he can become a strong player, one of the best players in Europe.

“He is very lucky because he plays football. When you play football it is a fantastic sport. You can play and enjoy every game, every training session.

“It’s not difficult. I would like him to understand better about his ­behaviour.”