Manchester City legend Dennis Tueart has likened Mario Balotelli to Giorgio Chinaglia.

Chinaglia , who died in April, would infamously berate team-mate Pele if he didn't pass to him during their time together in the US. Asked in later years if he played with the Brazilian great, Chinaglia's response would be: "No. Pele played with me."

"He was so infatuated with scoring goals that if people didn't pass the ball to him when he thought he deserved it, he would go ballistic," Tueart told the Manchester Evening News. "He was a fantastic goalscorer and he was a winner.

"I like mavericks who are winners. People who are demanding of themselves and their team-mates. That's what you want in business - in most walks of life. You want to find people who are pushing themselves and others to achieve.

"Mario Balotelli wants to win. You can see on the pitch that if he makes a run and someone doesn't make the pass, he rants and raves.

"I could play with that. He's a maverick who is a winner. I like winners who don't just play for themselves. Then everyone benefits."