• Premier League

Tevez: I'm Balotelli's mentor

ESPN staff
January 7, 2013
Carlos Tevez says he tries to help Mario Balotelli © PA Photos
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Carlos Tevez says he understands the mentality of Manchester City team-mate Mario Balotelli and insists he has taken on the role of mentor for his fellow striker.

Balotelli, 22, was last week pictured in an apparent physical confrontation with manager Roberto Mancini, the latest in a long line of controversial moments since joining the club from Inter Milan.

Tevez is no stranger to controversy himself, having been out of the City side for a long spell last season after refusing to warm up during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

"I try to help Mario," Tevez revealed. "I talk to him personally, on and off the pitch. I've been in that moment like him.

"I'm always keen to help him and keep him going through these kind of moments, so he doesn't make the same mistakes that I did in the past."

Tevez believes the training-ground incident with Mancini, which was sparked by a tackle from Balotelli on Scott Sinclair, was simply blown out of proportion by the media.

"There are these kind of things that have happened at all the clubs I've been, but here at City the spotlight is always on us, as it is always on Roberto and Mario," he said.

"So here it always comes out - but this kind of thing happens everywhere."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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