By MARTIN BLACKBURN
The Italian striker’s long-term future at the Etihad has been in doubt as he has hardly featured for the champions this season.
Close pal Patrice Evra claimed earlier this month the 22-year-old wants to return to Italy, where his ex-partner is due to give birth to their child in the new year.
Yet Super Mario scored some key goals for City last term in the absence of Carlos Tevez to help edge his club towards the title.
And after opening his league account for the campaign in the vital win 2-0 at Wigan on Wednesday night, Balotelli has been urged by Barry to do the same again this time around.
England midfielder Barry said: “I think he is happy here. If you saw him day to day, you’d see no reason to think he isn’t happy.
“He’s probably not played as much as he would have liked, but he’s kept his head as well as anybody else who isn’t getting chances. At Wigan he started and scored, so that will help.
“He can make a difference. He scored some massive goals last season. If he can repeat that again this season, it will be good for us.”
Balotelli was handed his first start in over three weeks at the DW Stadium and he has not even been on the bench for some key games.
Yet Barry insists the former Inter Milan forward’s confidence is such that he will not be fazed by a spell on the sidelines.
He said: “Anyone who knows Mario knows he’s not going to lack confidence. If he misses two or three, he’ll keep trying the same things.
“To be fair to Mario, he hasn’t had loads of chances, but when you do get them, you need to take them. He’s taken his chance.
“Hopefully that goal will give him that extra bit of confidence and he can improve from that. It came at a good time and it could be good for Mario — he could go on a run now.”
Balotelli’s goal helped City keep Manchester United in their sights with the derby looming at the Etihad next Sunday.
Barry said: “Of course, we want to be within touching distance when we play them.
“It’s a massive game first for us against Everton and we always find it difficult against them, so if we get a positive result there, we’ll go into the derby confident.”
City remain unbeaten in the Premier League yet trail their neighbours United by a point — even though Alex Ferguson’s men have lost three times.
Roberto Mancini’s men have drawn five of their matches so far and Barry admits it is important they grind out more wins like they did against Wigan.
Barry added: “If we can keep that run going for as long as possible, it’s going to help.
“People have mentioned the draws we’ve had. We need to turn them into wins because the three points are vital.”
City’s recent success has been built on a run of five clean sheets in six league games — helped by the form of summer signing Matija Nastasic, 19.
Boss Mancini said: “In two years he will be one of the top defenders in Europe.”
