Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that Mario Balotelli can smoke as long as he continues to score goals.

Balotelli has previously been pictured in tabloid newspapers smoking a cigar but Mancini has dismissed Balotelli's smoking habit as "his problem".

Mancini said: "If he wants to smoke it is his problem. If he wants my opinion, it is better that he quits.

"But if he smokes 10 cigarettes a day and scores two goals every game, then that's better."

Balotelli was left out of the Manchester City side that lost 3-2 to Real Madrid on Tuesday night.