Inter Coach Roberto Mancini says Liverpool's Mario Balotelli has one last chance at a 'top club', but believes he can return to stardom.
Italy's enfant terrible lost much of his credit with fans after a disappointing World Cup campaign in Brazil was followed by a lacklustre start with his new club Liverpool.
Mancini, who debuted the young Italy international during their time together at the Nerazzurri, believes his career is not over yet.
“Mario has a big chance because he plays for a top club like Liverpool,” he has said, in an interview with CNN World Sport.
“He has a good manager. He can play again in the Premier League - that, for me, is one of the best championships in the world.
“And I don't think that he can lose this chance, because Liverpool is a top club, and Mario is a top player.
“I gave him the chance to play in the first team when he was really young, and for this reason I know him very well. Mario has the same age as my boy. For this reason, I love him.
“Mario is a good guy. Maybe sometimes because he is young he can have not very good behaviour. But it's normal for a young guy.
“Maybe sometimes when you are young, you can make a mistake, like Mario. But Mario, his heart is very big.”
Il Mancio added that Balotelli's return to his best depends above all else on the player's own drive.
“I think that it's important that Mario starts - or restarts - to think only about football. Not the other things that are around him.
“It depends on Mario. If Mario wants to do it, he can do it.
“I hope that they can do a good job with Mario because I think they spent a lot of money for him.”
The 50-year-old also discussed Super Mario's relationship with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who has given limited playing time this season to the Italian.
“I know Brendan very well. And he's a good man, he's a good manager, and probably after eight months he knows Mario very well.
“At the same time, he needs to think also of the whole team, not only Mario. And at the moment he's on the bench and maybe he's doesn't play a lot.
“I think that's because Brendan thinks it's right like this. But at the same time, I think that Brendan in his mind knows that Mario could be an important player for Liverpool.”
