Manager may lose patience after lack-lustre Balotelli display

Roberto Mancini appeared to raise questions about Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City future after the striker’s disappointing performance in the 3-2 derby defeat by United.

Balotelli was a surprise inclusion alongside Sergio Aguero for Mancini, who started with Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko on the bench at the Etihad Stadium.

It was just an eighth start of the season for the Italy forward, who has let his manager down time and again and has been linked with a return to his homeland with Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus all interested in signing him in January.