Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insists he hasn't given up on Mario Balotelli.

Mancini is expected to name Balotelli among the substitutes for tomorrow's Champions League game at home to Real Madrid.

Mancini said: "Now he is 22 but life can go quickly and I hope he can improve everything because as a player he could be like Cristiano and Messi if he understands that to be like this you should work hard, your mind should be always on your job, not on the other things that are not important."