Roberto Mancini dismisses Mario Balotelli smoking concern

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that Mario Balotelli can smoke as long as he continues to score goals.

Balotelli has previously been pictured in tabloid newspapers smoking a cigar but Mancini has dismissed Balotelli's smoking habit as "his problem".

Mancini said: "If he wants to smoke it is his problem. If he wants my opinion, it is better that he quits.

"But if he smokes 10 cigarettes a day and scores two goals every game, then that's better."

Balotelli was left out of the Manchester City side that lost 3-2 to Real Madrid on Tuesday night.