Marko Arnautovic says Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is misunderstood.

Arnautovic was Balotelli's room-mate and closest friend at Inter Milan.

He says the Man City striker is such a handful because he had the toughest of upbringings.

Arnautovic said: "I spent a whole year with him in our room at Inter Milan. We were both the youngest players in the squad. We lived in that room most of the time. And in our spare time we were always doing things together.

"Is he as mad as people say? I have never had any problems with him. I was on a great level with him and up until this day I still really get on with him so well.

"But I think people find him difficult to handle because of his very difficult childhood. People do not realise he has a lot of bad memories about that time. But then again the media must not portray him like that all the time. He really is a super guy and a good man.''