Balotelli fined for breaking curfew

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Mario Balotelli has been fined one week’s wages for breaking a club curfew ahead of the side’s fixture with Bolton.

The Italy international was seen leaving a strip club in Liverpool in the early hours of Friday morning, and later admitted that he was in the wrong for breaking the rules.

Rumours in the press had stated that the temperamental forward had been fined two week’s wages, but Mancini has confirmed that it was only one week’s pay.

“I spoke with Mario and gave him a fine of one week’s wages for what he did,” Mancini told reporters in Portugal ahead of City’s clash with Sporting Lisbon, documented by Sky Sports.

“This is normal because every player should have good behaviour before the game.”

Mancini also confirmed that Balotelli had accepted the fine without any dispute.

Meanwhile, City defender Stefan Savic believes that the fixture against Manchester United will decide the title race.

The Etihad Stadium outfit are currently two points clear of their rivals at the top of the Premier League, but the Serbian centre back feels that the game between the sides will be critical in the destination of the title.

“We are following their games and results much more in the Premier League rather than in the Europe League,” he told B52, translated to English by Sky Sports.

“We are trying to stay focused on our game in both competitions. Anyway, they are the ones who have to wait for our flop, but with every win we are step closer to the Premier League title.

“The match between us and them will be the decisive one,” he concluded.