Manchester City & Italy Ponder If Mario Balotelli Is Worth the Risk

Mario Balotelli, who is no stranger to media attention and controversy, is back at it again.

The Italian forward has made headlines in recent weeks, being linked with the "Wayne Rooney call girl," which in turn reflected where his mind must have been during the Manchester City-Arsenal game at the Emirates on Sunday.

Balotelli started off with a horror tackle on Arsenal defender, Alex Song, which is going to be reviewed by league officials.

Then late in the game, his selfish performance continued. In the dying minutes, after Arsenal's Mikel Arteta had just scored what turned out to be the winner, his challenge on Sagna got him sent off.

On top of that, City manager Roberto Mancini has proclaimed he "is done" with him, adding Balotelli will not represent Manchester City again this year.

When asked about the 21-year-old's future, Mancini said, "At the end of the season, I will talk to the club and we will see what we decide."

All of the negativity and bad vibes coming from Balotelli could also see him left out of the Euro 2012 squad this upcoming summer. It wouldn't be the first time coach Cesare Prandelli has left Super Mario out for his "unethical" decisions on the pitch.

During an international friendly against the United States, Balotelli was omitted because of a four-game club ban he was facing for his stomp on Tottenham's Scott Parker. As part of his punishment, Prandelli decided not include the youngster in his plans for the game.

Balotelli is a perfectly good waste of talent. I wish he could mature and see the perception and image he is creating of himself around the world. To me, he is one of the dirtiest players on the planet and the Euro 2012 will be better off without him.

In the words of Mancini, "He's not a bad guy, he is a fantastic player, but in this moment I"m very sorry for him as he continues to lose his talent, his quality. I hope for him he can understand he's in a bad way for his future and he can change his behaviour in the future."