Roberto Mancini: 'Mario Balotelli must withstand rage'

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told Mario Balotelli that he must learn to control his temper.

The AC Milan striker was shown a red card after the final whistle on Sunday as his side lost 2-1 to Napoli in Serie A.

Balotelli, 23, has been given a three-match ban for the incident.

"Now all the defenders in the world know that it takes just two kicks to make him lose his head, and behave accordingly," Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport..

"Mario must be able to withstand the attacks of rage. He must break the cycle. If word got out that he no longer reacts, after a while he would no longer be provoked."

Balotelli joined Milan from Manchester City in January following a three-year spell with the Premier League club.