Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has insisted that he will not 'give up' on striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli, 21, has attracted a host of unwanted attention this season with his antics, and it had been suggested that Mancini could sell his fellow Italian at the end of the season.

Mancini has denied such claims, but has insisted that he is keen for Balotelli to "improve" in the final weeks of the season.

"Will I give up on him? No. But I am frustrated. He is young and I hope for him he can improve very quickly. Sometimes I think it is not possible that a player with his class and technique can play a game like he did against Sunderland," Mancini told The Sun.

Balotelli has scored 17 goals in 30 games for City this season.