Controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli will “probably” not play for Manchester City again, coach Roberto Mancini has said.
Balotelli picked up his second red card of the season in City’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday and may yet face a lengthy ban if the FA investigates a high challenge on Arsenal’s Alex Song that the referee missed.
He is unlikely to feature in the remainder of City’s league campaign, Mancini said.
“He will probably not play in the next six games,” he said in comments cited by the BBC.
Asked whether he would sell Balotelli in the summer, Mancini said: “Probably.”
If Balotelli leaves Man City, it would end a two-year stay that has been characterized by disciplinary problems, with four red cards and a four-game ban for violent conduct when he appeared to stamp on Tottenham player Scott Parker’s head in a game in January.
Off the field, Balotelli has been involved in a car crash and a house fire, and once threw a dart at a City youth player.
Born on Sicily to Ghanaian parents, Balotelli moved to England in 2010 from Serie A side Inter Milan, where he made a surprise return last month at a press conference to announce the new manager, fuelling speculation he may seek a return to his former club.
