Balotelli backs Tevez return

Mario Balotelli has urged Manchester City fans to support Carlos Tevez when the absentee striker returns to the first team.

The Argentine has been in self-imposed exile since September after refusing to come on as a substitute during a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.

With a return thought to be imminent, Balotelli hopes the City faithful will show their appreciation for last season’s top goalscorer.

“I think supporters have to be like they were before. If they make pressure on Carlos, they make pressure to all the team, so they should do nothing,” he said.

“I think everyone can make a mistake. Carlos is part of the team. He’s just a part of the team, so everybody loves him.”

Balotelli has found himself on the receiving end of Roberto Mancini’s wrath recently after being fined one week’s wages when he visited a strip club the night before the 2-0 win over Bolton last weekend.

The 21-year-old scored the second goal in the victory and after the game insisted that he is only interested in his performances on the field, and not the media interest in his private life.

“I don’t like when people talk about my business with my life. I’m really private,” he said.

“Maybe some people think I’m really arrogant. I don’t care, they can say what they want. I’m a footballer so the most important moment is Sunday on the pitch.”

“If I go in the street and one guy gets a picture, they say, ‘Mario was there’. Someone calls the press and says, ‘Mario was there’. The day after that they say, ‘Mario was there’. Is that normal?”

“I’m just walking in town like a normal guy or I go to the pub. I’ve been to the pub, yeah. Not to drink.”

Despite their recent differences, Balotelli revealed that he would never have moved to Eastlands had Mancini not been in charge.

The pair were reunited in the summer of 2010 when the manager signed the striker for 27 million pounds from Inter.

“Yes. If Mancini wasn’t here I’m never coming,” he said. “Now that I am here I’m OK. I’m happy.”

“If Mancini says something, he’s right. I’m 21, I’m still young. I think already from last year I’m bigger in my head.”