By MARTIN BLACKBURN
CARLOS TEVEZ wants to help Mario Balotelli save his Manchester City career.
The Italian’s future at the Etihad is in serious doubt after a training ground bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini.
Argie Tev looked to be on his way out of City after infamously refusing to warm up against Bayern Munich 16 months ago and handing in two transfer requests.
But the striker ended last season with a title-winner’s medal and is in the side and scoring goals this term.
What’s more, the supporters who wanted him out a year ago are singing his name again.
So when Tevez stops to speak to Balotelli and offer him some advice, perhaps the Italian maverick should listen.
The former Manchester United forward, 28, said: “I try to help Mario. I talk to him personally, on and off the pitch.
“I’ve been in that moment like him.
“I’m always keen to help him and keep him going through these kind of moments, so he doesn’t make the same mistakes that I did in the past.”
Balotelli made his first City appearance in a month when he came on as a second-half sub against Watford in Saturday’s FA Cup clash.
But even by the Italian’s standards it has been a crazy few weeks. First he threatened to take his club to a tribunal over a disciplinary fine of two weeks’ wages — before dropping the action at the last minute.
Then on Thursday he had that astonishing bust-up with manager Mancini, putting a huge question mark over his long-term future in Manchester.
The 6,000 travelling Watford fans goaded Balotelli with chants of ‘Fight, fight, fight’ when he came on during the 3-0 win, which has earned Mancini’s men a fourth-round trip to either Crystal Palace or Stoke.
Tevez played down the incident though and insisted he has seen similar things happen all over the world.
He added: “There are these kind of things that have happened at all the clubs I’ve been, but here at City the spotlight is always on us, as it is always on Roberto and Mario.
“So here it always comes out — but this kind of thing happens everywhere.
“Mario has been doing OK. He has been working and trying to improve, and you can always improve as a player.
“That’s what he did coming back from illness and injury, and it’s what he has been trying to do.”
Another famous striker, Watford boss Gianfranco Zola, has urged Balotelli not to throw away his outrageous talent.
The pair worked together in the Italy Under-21 set-up and the Chelsea legend reckons the 22-year-old has everything to become one of the greats of the game.
He said: “You can see his talent. He’s a striker who has football intelligence, physique, two feet, he’s cool in front of the goalkeeper.
“I think he has everything — but you need to bring everything together.
That’s what he needs to work on. I would love to see him shining that little bit more.”
Zola hardly ever stepped out of line during his distinguished career and feels all that is missing from Balotelli’s game is a bit of self-control.
He added: “I don’t know if Manchester City want to persevere with him or not.
“I cannot get into that but what I can say is that it’s a pity that such a young player with so much potential is having a rough time.
“That’s what concerns me because I know the boy and I know the potential he has.
“It is just about his personality because the football skills can only benefit if you have a little more self-control.
“That’s what Mario needs to work on. It’s normal because he’s young and he has been through difficult moments. But he just needs to start working on that.”
