Inter Milan manager, Roberto Mancini, believes Mario Balotelli "wants to imitate Zlatan Ibrahimovic", but his career is failing to follow the same path.
Mancini managed both players during his first spell as Inter manager, while it was Ibrahimovic who helped him win the Serie A title.
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According to Mancini, Balotelli was as talented as Ibrahimovic but has been unable to develop in the same way.
"He has had the possibilities to do so," Mancini told ESPN.
"I think he wants to imitate Zlatan, who has gained a level of experience and quality which [Balotelli] still has to find, even though he's been playing for many years now.
"He and Ibra (Ibrahimovic) were outstanding together and I sincerely hope that he does manage to become like Zlatan."
Mancini's comments are not intended as criticism of a player as he helped him win the Premier League title with City.
"That was so satisfying because we Italians are not really regarded that highly in England," Mancini told BocconiTV.
"It was not quite like at Parma with Inter, but almost because we were 2-1 down in the last minute and at the time, I remember thinking that it could not end that way.
"We dominated that season, leading by eight points before falling eight points behind with five games to go.
"It's not so easy to catch United up, but in two minutes, we turned it all around.
"Thanks to Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko in addition to Mario Balotelli, who did a great thing by setting up Aguero while sliding in, we managed to win it."
Balotelli is still yet to score a Premier League goal for his new club Liverpool and has been under major pressure to perfom.
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Do you agree with Mancini's views? Have your say in the comments section below.
