• Premier League

Ronaldo roars back at Balotelli

ESPNsoccernet staff
January 19, 2011
Mario Balotelli has been a controversial figure since joining Manchester City last summer © PA Photos
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Cristiano Ronaldo has told outspoken Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli to talk less and concentrate on his football.

Italy international Balotelli has been at the centre of a number of controversies since joining City from Inter Milan last summer and recently made headlines by declaring Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was not the best player in Manchester.

But Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who made his name at United alongside Rooney, hit back in Gazzetta dello Sport: "Balotelli? He's a good player but he must talk less and think about playing more.

"In the Premier League, if he knows how to listen and wants to learn, he could become a great player. I hope he achieves that. However, today he puts many other things ahead of his career and this is not good."

Balotelli, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, is set to go head to head with Rooney in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on February 12.

"He [Rooney] is a very good player but not the best in Manchester," Balotelli said on Tuesday. "Our attack of Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko is the best in the world - better even than Barcelona and Real Madrid. We are the strongest and we can win things now - we just lack conviction."

The City striker also delivered his verdict on his former coach at Inter, Jose Mourinho, and said current boss Roberto Mancini would soon be regarded a better manager.

"Mourinho is the best coach in the world but as a man he has a lot to learn about politeness and respect," he said. "[Mancini is] the most important coach I've had. Soon he'll be the best in the world. As a man he's 10km ahead of Mourinho."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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