Crash! Banger! Wallop! Robert Mancini hails Mario Balotelli

Posted Monday, October 24, 2011 by The Sun

Crash! Banger! Wallop! Robert Mancini hails Mario Balotelli
ARM THE MAN ... Mario Balotelli celebrates his explosive display against Manchester United

ROBERTO MANCINI claimed Mario Balotelli is one of the best players in the world — and mad as a hatter.

The Manchester City boss celebrated his 100th game in charge with a stunning 6-1 win at Old Trafford.

Balotelli scored the visitors' first two goals — that makes it six in five games for the controversial 21-year-old.

His performance came just a day after he set fire to his house by letting off fireworks from his bathroom window.

Mancini said: "I don't know what happened about the fireworks. The important thing is Mario and his friend were OK. But as far as the game went, Mario played very well. If you want to talk about Mario the football player, I put him in the first five players in the world.

"The problem is his age. He is young and maybe sometimes he can make mistakes. But as a player, he is incredible.

"I hope for him, for football in general, we arrive at the day when Mario has changed completely his mind because after this he becomes one of the best three players in the world, like Messi, like Cristiano Ronaldo."

Balotelli was booked after scoring the first goal for revealing a T-shirt with the words 'Why always me?'

Mancini said: "I didn't see it but it's Mario. I think he likes to show it to our supporters because he's crazy. Next time it's better he keeps his shirt on.

"I joke when I say 'crazy' — I love him because he's a good guy."

Mancini ended up taking off Balotelli in the 70th minute so the feisty striker would avoid a second booking.

He received a huge ovation from the City faithful who will be talking about yesterday afternoon for the rest of their lives as their team produced the most stunning result in Premier League history.