Source: Daily_Mail
How much longer will Man City tolerate the attitude of Mario Balotelli?
Can you tell a lot about a man by the way that he parks his car? Maybe. [LNB]At Manchester City Mario Balotelli sometimes likes to leave his high-powered vehicle in places that he shouldn't. Like every member of the club's squad, the young Italian has his own space in the car park, identified by a small sign. [LNB]Balotelli, however, has been known to leave the car outside the main training ground doors. It gets in other people's way. It makes it hard for them to turn round. It has been mentioned to him, but he hasn't listened. [LNB] Flawed genius or liability? Man City fans have seen both sides of Mario Balotelli[LNB]As one official told Sportsmail: 'You have to pick your battles with Mario, and this one isn't worth it.' [LNB]Is any of this a big deal? Perhaps not. But is it indicative of Balotelli's attitude to life and to football? It seems that way. [LNB]On Sunday and Monday morning, City manager Roberto Mancini and other senior officials woke to headlines about their FA Cup semi-final win over neighbours Manchester United. On the same pages, however, were photographs of Balotelli rucking with members of the opposition. City are irritated by it. They are annoyed that an act as simple and largely inoffensive as celebrating in front of opposition supporters has been blown into such a big deal. As they have privately pointed out, United players have form for this too. [LNB]Nevertheless, deep down they know that Balotelli is a problem. A player who courts controversy, who attracts trouble like a delinquent, who does not listen. He was recently described by one City source as a nuisance and until he begins to produce consistently valuable form on the field, this is how he will be viewed. [LNB] Enlarge At Wembley on Saturday, Balotelli was chosen as City's attacking spearhead partly because captain Carlos Tevez was injured and because the Bosnian Edin Dzeko has struggled for form since arriving in January. [LNB]Balotelli was also chosen, though, because Mancini wanted to field a player who could trouble United's defenders. He did not simply want a player who could hold the ball up and gradually bring team-mates into play. [LNB]Mancini wanted Balotelli's pace and his unpredictability. On an afternoon when his team would start as underdogs he wanted some electricity. Occasionally, the City coach got what he wanted. One moment in the first half saw Balotelli spin United captain Nemanja Vidic and hare into space like Usain Bolt. Vidic looked dizzy. Another instant saw a pure strike from 35 yards bring the best from Edwin van der Sar at a time when City were struggling for momentum. [LNB]More often than not, however, Balotelli frustrated Mancini with his poor discipline and his failure to understand the role of a lone centre forward when his team do not have the ball. [LNB] Headache: Roberto Mancini (second left) tries to protect Balotelli[LNB]After a needless second-half booking, Mancini's staff urged him to take Balotelli off. His faith remained intact, only to be rewarded with a Balotelli shot over the bar from 45 yards when City were desperate to keep possession of the ball deep in added time. [LNB]At times Balotelli's football was impressive, at others it was remarkably stupid. In short, it was a typical Balotelli performance. It was engaging and lively and it will be remembered. Ultimately, though, it was not really good enough and, as he heads towards another big summer, Mancini has a big call. [LNB]Does he stick or twist with a player who, according to some at City, is more difficult to handle than any they have ever known? [LNB]Certainly, City could sell. Back in Italy, both Milan clubs maintain an interest in a player who is regarded as one of the country's most exciting young prospects. Mancini has not ruled out a sale as Balotelli has vexed him more than he imagined. In private, he has expressed his exasperation. [LNB]Nevertheless, City would be selling at a loss. That would not sit well with Mancini's pride, nor would it look very good on City's already swollen balance sheet. [LNB] Controversy: Balotelli's antics angered Rio Ferdinand[LNB]If Balotelli was to produce some consistent performances at a time when City really need him then that would help to swing the debate. With Dzeko looking uncertain and Tevez not expected back until the home game against Tottenham on May 10, City need their young forward to help them over the line in terms of Champions League qualification. [LNB]Whether he cares enough to come through for his club and for his coach is unclear. Certainly Balotelli can be selfless. His aides point towards charity work in Brazil and Sicily. [LNB]However, in Manchester he has made little effort to make himself at home. He has spent time with Mancini's son Andreas but has also spent an awful lot of time alone inside his city centre apartment and back in Italy. From the outset, Balotelli has looked like a player who doesn't want to be in England and doesn't really care who knows it. [LNB]As one observer asked as we left Wembley on Saturday night: 'Is he really good enough to be worth all this fuss?' [LNB]The next month or so will go some way to providing the answer.[LNB] Premier League flops: Big money buys who failed to settle in EnglandI'm no hypocrite! Rio Ferdinand hits back amid Balotelli backlash by insisting Manchester City striker's celebration was worse than Neville's'Teacher's pet' Barry ignores Barton blast to focus on City's quest for gloryAll the latest Man City news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Edin Dzeko, Usain Bolt, Nemanja Vidic, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, Edwin Van Der Sar, Mario Balotelli Places: Milan, Manchester, Italy, United Kingdom, Brazil
