Balotelli’s mouth isn’t a problem but his injuries are

Roberto Mancini has defended Mario Balotelli’s attack on Wayne Rooney, claiming it was a joke. Balotelli claimed Rooney isn’t even the best striker in Manchester.

Mancini played down the Manchester City star’s latest outburst and says he still respects Rooney.

“I didn’t read the interview,” he said, “I don’t know what he said. I think that he likes to joke sometimes. I don’t think that Mario thinks this. I think Mario thinks Rooney is a fantastic striker. I think like this, but it is normal. United, City in the same city. It’s a joke and Rooney is a fantastic player.”

Mancini defended Balotelli’s right to speak his mind and rejected talk that he was only increasing the pressure on him with his outbursts.

“I think that we live in a free world and if someone wants to say something, it’s better that it’s said. I respect every opinion. There are not SS here, like in the war. We can speak and we are free. If you want to say something, you can. Mario is 20 years of age. People say he is always talking, but he’s played 11 games and scored eight goals.”

Mancini also revealed that Balotelli does not need surgery on his injured knee and is in America doing some rehab.

“He is continuing to work and I think that in three to four weeks, he can come back to play,” he said, “When he comes back from the USA, hopefully he will play every game and play well. I think that he has a fantastic. He has everything to become one of the best strikers in the world. But he needs to improve. He needs to work a lot. He needs to show all these things here. The problem is he has been injured often. This is a big problem for us.”

But Rooney’s former Rag team mate, that little winker Cristiano  Ronaldo has told Balotelli he’s not as good as he thinks he is.

“He is a good player but he has to speak less and play more. In the Premier League, if he knows how to listen and wants to learn, he could become a great player. I hope he achieves that. However, today he puts many other things ahead of his career and this is not good.”

Yeah, that’s right you poncy ex-Rag he’s always putting things ahead of his career. Like cars. He crashed a supercar in Manchester didn’t he? Remind you of anyone?

And instead of concentrating on his football, he’s always complaining that he wants to move to another club in the foreign press. Remind you of anyone?

MaineBlue looks up the meaning of the phrase ‘People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’.

Shut it – you Muppet Ronaldo.