'Annoyed' Mancini says 'bad boy' Balotelli won't play again for Man City this season

London, Apr 8(ANI): Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said striker Mario Balotelli won't play in their remaining six games of the season, after he was sent off in the 89th minute of their 1-0 loss to Arsenal at Emirates on Sunday.

This was the third time that Balotelli was sent off from a match, and Mancini has confessed he is losing patience with the crazy Italian striker.

Balotelli was fortunate to avoid being dismissed for a 20th minute challenge on Alex Song that went apparently unseen by referee Martin Atkinson, but could be subject to further review by the Football Association, raising the possibility of Balotelli being suspended for City's remaining fixtures.

Mancini admitted that if Balotelli doesn't change his ways, then he might be heading out of the Etihad Stadium.

"We have six games and he will not play in the next six games. But I love him as a guy. I love him as a player, because I know him. He's not a bad guy. He's a fantastic player," Sports24 quoted Mancini, as saying.

"But, at this moment, I'm very sorry because he continues to lose his talent, his quality. I hope, for him, that he can understand that he's in a bad way for his future, and he can change his behaviour in the future," he added.

When asked if Balotelli would be sold, Mancini added: "Probably, but I don't know. It depends, because Balotelli is a fantastic player." (ANI)