Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admits Mario Balotelli's antics have pushed him to the brink.
With the new season yet to kick off, Balotelli has already been substituted for showboating in a friendly against LA Galaxy, risked the wrath of City fans by saying he doesn't like living in Manchester and had a training-ground row with team-mate Aleks Kolarov.
An exasperated Mancini said: "I have to speak to Mario every single day and I think that maybe now I need a psychologist!
"I don't know why he does the things he does, except to say that he is a young guy who will eventually grow up.
"But I have known him since he was 17 and he is even worse now than he was then. We all do crazy things when we are young. I did crazy things, you did crazy things.
"But players these days are different to what they were 20 years ago. When I was a young player I was stronger mentally than players these days.
"Twenty years ago we had less money but more hunger. I wanted to be a top player and I was willing to give everything to achieve this. I was serious about everything.
"Of course, I made mistakes when I was 17. But when you get to 20 it is time to change because your career as a footballer is only 10 or 12 years. It is important that Mario understands this. Maybe I am more patient with players if they are young. Mario is young and I understand he is homesick because it is not easy for a young guy to be away from his family.
"Sometimes I have been really disappointed with him and at other times I understand his behaviour.
"But I think he must now understand that he must improve his behaviour for the good of the team."
