Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has been told by senior players to get rid of Mario Balotelli.

The Daily Mail says some senior players at the Etihad Stadium and indeed members of Mancini's coaching staff are now so fed up with Balotelli and his distracting influence in the dressing room that they have told the City boss the squad would be better off without his young protégé.

The feeling is that Balotelli's occasional moments of effectiveness on the field are now far outweighed by the circus that constantly surrounds him away from the pitch.

Senior figures now hope that Mancini leaves him out of the first team picture over Christmas - starting with Saturday's home game with Reading - until he learns his lesson and sorts himself out.