Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has said that he would have punched striker Mario Balotelli if they were teammates.

The forward has been involved in a number of controversies both on and off the pitch this season, much to the frustration of his manager.

"I told Mario, 'If you played with me 10 years ago I'd give to you every day maybe one punch in your head,'" The Mirror quotes Mancini as saying.

"His problem is concentration, but I work with him every day.

"I don't speak with him every day - otherwise I would need a psychologist - but I speak with him because I don't want him to lose his quality."

The City coach, who declared that he will stick by Balotelli, went on to say that the striker has the potential to be "one of the top players in Europe".