Reality check for Super Mario

(24-12-2010) Boastful Mario Balotelli has received a dressing down from Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. This comes after the 20-year-old claimed not to have heard of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, the player who finished runner-up to him in the Golden Boy award, and to be nearly as good as Lionel Messi. Mancini has hit back by telling Balotelli to back up his words with consistent displays - and curb the temper blighting his game. "Only if you play well in every match can you say these things," said Mancini. "It is good when a player has confidence in himself. Mario Balotelli has everything you need to be one of the best players in the world. But he must improve and he must show it." Balotelli has only shown flashes of brilliance since his £24m summer arrival at Eastlands from Inter Milan.