Mario Balotelli set for talks with Manchester City
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will speak to the club at the end of the season to determine his future.
After Balotelli's red card in Sunday's 1-0 loss at Arsenal, City boss Roberto Mancini stated he would "probably" try to sell the 21-year-old this summer.
"At the end of the season I will speak with the club and we'll see," Balotelli said in a statement provided by his agent to Italian news agency Ansa.
"I'm very sorry for what happened and for the disappointment caused to City."
Balotelli added that his apologies were directed "especially to Roberto Mancini, who I admire and wish well".
The Italian was sent off in the 90th minute for a second bookable offence as City were beaten at Emirates Stadium.
He escaped punishment for a challenge on Alex Song early in the match but could not avoid a fourth dismissal in two seasons with the club.
According to Ansa, Balotelli phoned Cesare Prandelli to apologise but the Italy coach told his player to publicly apologise.
In line with a code of conduct introduced upon taking over in 2010, Prandelli left Balotelli out of his squad for the friendly against the United States in February.
That followed his four-match suspension for a challenge on Tottenham's Scott Parker in January.
But Balotelli said of his actions against Arsenal: "I didn't break the code of ethics. I already missed out on the national team for foolishness and I wouldn't do it a second time.
"I hope to be there at the [pre-Euro 2012] training camp in April. Let's wait for the final verdict of the ban."
Speaking two weeks before Italy's two-day training camp, Prandelli commented: "I'll evaluate from the videos of the sending off whether or not to apply the code of ethics for Balotelli."
After the Arsenal match, Mancini cast doubt over the forward's future with City, who are now eight points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Use accessible player and disable flyout menusIs Balotelli a liability? - MOTD3
"I don't have any words for his behaviour," said Mancini, who signed Balotelli from Inter Milan for £24m in August 2010.
"I hope for him he can understand he is in a bad way for his future and I really hope that he can change his behaviour in the future. He will probably not play in the next six games.
"I need to be sure I always have 11 players on the pitch and with Mario this is a big risk."
Earlier this season, Balotelli escaped unhurt when a firework was launched inside his home.
In March 2011, it emerged that Balotelli threw a dart at a City youth-team player. BBC
Etihad Stadium boss ready to offload ten players after being told by Man City’s owners that funds for new additions must be generated by significant player sales.
Roberto Mancini is ready to conduct a major clear-out after being told by Man City’s owners that if the Italian wants to bring in new additions he will have to fund the purchases with major player sales. The Etihad Stadium boss has been given assurances he will not be fired this summer but will not be handed a blank cheque-book and will demand major silverware next term.
Among those said to be set for the chop are major first team players who Mancini feels have not proved effective enough to warrant a spot in his starting plans, as well as a number of squad players who have spent last season out on loan who the Man City boss will look to sell off as much to remove their wages from the payroll as to produce funds that would then form the majority of his summer transfer war-chest.
First team players who Mancini is ready to axe include troublesome strikers Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez, two players Man City would hope to garner at least £20m apiece. Enforcer Nigel De Jong will be sacrificed having becoming little more than a bit part player this term.
Full back Aleksandar Kolarov will be made available as Mancini opts to stick with Gael Clichy on the left hand side and young centre back Stefan Savic, who has looked out of his depth this term, could be on his way out though a loan move may also be considered for the Montenegro international.
Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko is thought to be ready to quit the club having started less than half of the club’s Premier League matches and again Mancini will hope to recoup a significant chunk of the £27m paid to Wolfsburg for his services.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge and Vladmir Weiss are all also likely to be sold as Roberto Mancini opts to streamline his squad in preference to agreeing any more season long loan deals for his senior stars.
Of the four the one player who is likely to net Man City a decent sum is Emmanuel Adebayor, who has performed well whilst at Tottenham but the White Hart Lane side are said to be reticent about meeting the Togo international’s wage demands though may be more willing to do so if they can pick up the former Arsenal man for the right fee.
Mancini is thought to have earmarked moves for a number of young players he wishes to form part of a longer term strategy with Lille starlet Eden Hazard and Athletic Bilbao attacker Iker Muniain being his chief targets. caughtoffside bx
Balotelli faces NINE-game ban after reckless Song tackle
Mario Balotelli is facing a nine-game 'totting up' ban after the FA revealed they are deciding whether to punish his studs-up tackle on Arsenal's Alex Song, which referee Martin Atkinson missed.
If they do, it would count as a fourth red card of the season for the Italian, who is facing a revolt by his Manchester City team-mates, with several demanding that manager Roberto Mancini kicks him out of the club this summer.
Bad timing: City striker Balotelli faces a nine-game ban
Balotelli was sent off anyway late in the defeat by Arsenal for a second yellow card. He already misses one game for that sending off and an extra two because it was his third red of the season.
He could be banned for a further three games for the Song tackle and then for another three because that would count as his fourth red.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z1rcG8acbq
City's Ash offered a Nou start
Barcelona want Manchester City’s highly-rated academy prospect Ashley Smith-Brown to switch to the Nou Camp.
The teenage wing-back, who can play on the left or the right, caught the eye of Barca scouts when he played for England’s Under-16 side against Spain in February, and the Catalan Giants are keen to recruit him for their legendary La Masia academy.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also monitoring the 16-year-old, who has impressed City’s coaches with his ability and work-rate.
Smith-Brown came to the Blues’ attention playing for England’s U16s in the Victory Shield competition.
He also featured for the Three Lions’ U17 team at the Nordic Tournament in Iceland last year, and was called up by Kenny Swain for the U16 side which faced Northern Ireland a few months later.
Smith-Brown was watched by the London clubs at the recent Montaigu Tournament in France, and was part of the England team narrowly beaten in the semi-finals by Russia on penalties.
Samir Nasri makes £10k bet that Arsenal will remain trophyless
Manchester City ace Samir Nasri has agreed to bet talk show host Piers Morgan £10,000 that he will get his hands on silverware before his former club Arsenal.
The French midfielder, who endured a miserable return to the Emirates on Sunday, took exception to the former Daily Mirror editor’s jibes on Twitter following the Gunners' 1-0 win over City.
Still smarting from the defeat which effectively ended his side’s title challenge, Nasri hit back at the notorious wind-up merchant via his own social network page, advising Morgan and other Arsenal fans to ‘move on’ and ‘support your team’, rather than harbouring resentment towards him for making a £24million summer switch to City.
But after Morgan pushed the Frenchman by referencing his quotes about ‘leaving Arsenal to win trophies’ – which seems an unlikely scenario this season – Nasri couldn’t resist taking a pop at his old club.
‘I'm aware what i said about titles i'm sure i will lift a trophy with Man City before AFC,’ snapped Nasri.
Morgan then quickly challenged the midfielder to put his money where his mouth was with a £10,000 wager, to which Nasri replied: ‘No problem we bet and the winner gives the money to a charity.’
While Morgan is no stranger to making charity bets with his celebrity pals such as The Apprentice star, Lord Alan Sugar, it’s likely the Football Association will have something to say about Nasri indulging in gambling, regardless of its light nature.
Nasri’s City team-mate Nigel De Jong had previously tried to warn him off getting into a war of words with the serial Twitter tormentor before he agreed to the bet, saying: ‘Don't waste anymore tweets 2 Morgan @SamNasri19. Easy 2 sit behind your screen and give comments. Be a real man and say it their faces.’
James Milner rues Manchester City away day woes
James Milner admitted Manchester City have paid for their lack of "ruthlessness" away from home in 2012 after Arsenal dealt what could be a fatal blow to their Barclays Premier League title hopes.
Sunday's 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium - further marred by another Mario Balotelli red card - left Roberto Mancini's men facing a barren season, with arch-rivals Manchester United going into the final six matches eight points clear at the summit.
That represents a remarkable turnaround, with City having held a five-point lead just over a month ago - admittedly having played a game more.
They were also five points clear back in October when they won the Manchester derby 6-1 at Old Trafford, having previously thrashed Tottenham 5-1 at White Hart Lane in August.
But while United have gone from strength to strength, City have self-combusted on their travels since the turn of the year, with even their victories edgy affairs.
Midfielder Milner said: "We have played well for the majority of the season, but have come unstuck for whatever reason over the past few weeks, most of the time away from home.
"We have been very strong at home, but away have not got the results we want.
"It is about having that ruthlessness on the road which we can learn from."
City seldom looked like winning on Sunday, with watching chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak looking far from impressed by what he saw.
Milner said: "Everyone has good days and bad days.
"We did not keep the ball as well as we can.
Where has it gone wrong for Manchester City?
"We were still in the game going into the final 10 minutes, which is what the good teams do.
"When you are under pressure, it is about staying tight, restricting their chances and hoping you can nick one at the other end, but that just did not happen.
"They had more than enough chances, but the boys defended well, the centre-halves were magnificent, so were Gael Clichy and Joe Hart.
"Credit to the lads, but it was just not enough."
He added: "As a team, we have set standards throughout the season, but we have not met them.
"We knew it would be a tough game, but we did not perform how we know we can for whatever reason, loss of confidence, fatigue.
"We have given everything we can, and it was not good enough.
"But we have another game in a couple of days and have to pick ourselves up and go again."
Mancini must somehow lift his men for Wednesday's match against West Brom, which sees striker Balotelli serve the first instalment of what is currently a three-match ban following his sending off.
The Italian striker will learn on Tuesday whether he faces missing the rest of the season when the Football Association ask the match officials whether they failed to spot his clash with Alex Song.
Replays showed Balotelli going in high on the Arsenal midfielder, who was fortunate to escape serious injury.
Milner refused to answer any questions about the conduct of Balotelli, who Mancini admitted he would "probably" sell in the summer.
The City boss also refused to concede the title, sentiments echoed by England star Milner.
Admitting Mancini had set a target of seven straight wins before yesterday's game, the 26-year-old said: "From now, we will try to win the remaining six, which is all we can do and see where that takes us.
"We just have to concentrate on doing what we have to do, on our own game and, whatever happens this season, whether we win it or don't, we have to make sure we learn from the good and the poor things which have gone on." MuEN
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to join the £3m chase for Birmingham's highly rated teenage goalkeeper Jack Butland. England Under-21 international Butland is currently on his second loan spell with Cheltenham and has also been regularly watched by Arsenal this season but has yet to make a first-team appearance for Birmingham. Daily Mirror
Carlos Vela is apparently not keen to return to the Premier League
Striker Carlos Vela wants to stay at Real Sociedad rather than go back to Arsenal. The on-loan Mexican striker, 23, is in Spain until the end of the season. The Sun
Long-time Spurs target Milos Krasic has indicated he is keen to join the north London club in the summer. The Serbia winger turned down a move to the club in January. Metro
Struggling Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, 23, has admitted to friends he's finding it hard to cope with his £35m price tag. Daily Mail
Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul reckons the good times are back at St James' Park after their win against Bolton moved them up to fifth place in the Premier League, level on points with Tottenham. Newcastle Journal
Roy Hodgson, 64, says he is ready to commit his future to West Brom despite being second favourite to Harry Redknapp for the England job. Birmingham Mail
Paul Scholes, 37, will sign a new one-year contract for Manchester United but will decline an invitation to return for England at Euro 2012. The Times
Norwich boss Paul Lambert says Premier League survival is still his priority despite beating high-flying Tottenham to move into 10th place. Norwich Evening News
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermalen believes the Gunners can challenge for Premier League honours next season but they will need more consistency if they are to win a first championship title since 2004. The Guardian
Norwich midfielder Elliott Bennett believes his Canaries team-mate Grant Holt deserves the chance to represent England at Euro 2012. Talkshit
More Bollox later ...
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