Patrick Vieira believes that Mario Balotelli is now at a stage in his career where he must show maturity and learn from his mistakes.
The 21-year-old striker is in line to start for Italy in the Euro 2012 quarter-final against England on Sunday.
Vieira, who played alongside Balotelli at Inter before linking up with the forward again at Manchester City, claimed that the Italian must now show that he has grown up.
"Mario will be 22 in August and he has now reached the point in his life and his career where he has to learn from his mistakes and show that he is a man and no longer a boy," Vieira told The Telegraph.
"People will lose patience with you and get tired of helping if you do not improve your conduct or fail to learn from your mistakes.
"I think it can sometimes be difficult for Mario to accept criticism because, when people tell you that you are going to be the best, it can be hard to understand when you are on the wrong side of the critics. But I really feel that Mario is ready to accept help, however, and Mancini is also prepared to support him."
The 21-year-old joined Manchester City in 2010 from Inter Milan.
Sam Hughes
