AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano says Manchester City ace Mario Balotelli could be anything - if he gets his head right.

Cassano, 29, is no stranger to controversy himself, having had temperament and fitness issues in the past and has offered his volatile colleague some advice as they prepare to take on Spain in the Euro 2012 final.

"Balotelli is young and still needs to mature. He is also emotive and sometimes his temperament can be his own worst enemy," he told The Sun on Sunday.

"But he has fire in his stomach and it makes him strong, so you have to be careful how you handle him.

"To tame him would be wrong, though he has to learn to control his emotions and direct them in a positive way. Only he can decide whether he wants it all or whether it all goes to waste.

"I have great empathy with him and know how hard it is, especially when occasionally you think the whole world is against you.

"But at the moment Balotelli is on top of the world, very focused and dreaming of making Italy champions."