Mancini denies Balotelli illness

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has quashed rumours that Mario Balotelli was ill before the Champions League clash against Napoli last night.

The ex-Inter Milan star was sick on the field in Naples and was spotted in a pizzeria with his girlfriend on the night before the side's 2-1 defeat against Napoli at the San Paolo Stadium.

"He was sick but he didn't have many problems," Sky Sports News quotes Mancini as saying. "He has a small fever, it was nothing serious.

"He had my permission to see his girlfriend for half an hour - it was only to say hello to his girlfriend in a pizzeria. He did not have a pizza."

Man City's chances of reaching the final 16 of the European tournament depend on Napoli's result against Villarreal in a fortnight. If the Italian side secure three points, City will not qualify for the knockout stages irrespective of their result.