Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says it's time for Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli to grow up.

Balo's 14 Premier League games this season have bought him just one goal and the 22-year-old was last week dubbed a "rotten apple" by AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi.

And now Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli has insisted: "There comes a point when Mario has to change of his own accord.

"He needs to take his responsibilities seriously and get people talking about what he does on the pitch.

"I advise him to listen to his manager. It was Mancini who gave him his debut for Inter and who took him to Manchester.

"Who better than him to give Mario advice?

"Berlusconi may have called him a rotten apple but he always behaves well on national duty.

"We coaches have the duty to bring out the best in a talented player like Mario. But he should stop trying to be a super-hero off the field."