Nigel De Jong: Mario Balotelli would be "off the rails" without Roberto Mancini

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong thinks that Mario Balotelli would have gone "off the rails" if it was not for manager Roberto Mancini.

The Citizens boss recently told the controversial 21-year-old forward: "If you played with me 10 years ago I'd give to you every day maybe one punch in your head."

Despite this, De Jong believes that Mancini's influence on Balotelli has been crucial in keeping him out of serious trouble and helping him produce good form on the field.

De Jong told The Mirror: "Mario is lucky that we have an Italian manager and that Roberto Mancini speaks the same language. Without Mancini, Mario would have gone completely off the rails a long time ago.

"Mario reacts too much to all the people around him. Lots of people expect him to do the most ridiculous stunts. This is why there is something in his body or mind that tells him he has to fulfill those expectations.

"He's thinking all day, 'I have to do something.' Sometimes Mario is a fool, sometimes he is a genius. There are two sides to his character."

Harry Redknapp recently described Balotelli as "a problem".