Mancini wants to 'kick Balotelli's arse'

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that he would like to 'kick the arse' of Mario Balotelli over the striker's smoking habits.

The controversial 21-year-old is thought to smoke five or six cigarettes a day.

"I know he smokes. It's not okay but I'm not his father or his mother," Mancini told reporters. "If he was my son I would give him a kick up the arse but he's not.

"I told him it's better you don't smoke. I'm against ­cigarettes, always. For this reason my son doesn't smoke."

The Premier League leaders travel to Sunderland on New Year's Day.