Manchester City have told Mario Balotelli some home truths. The Sunday Mirror says Balotelli has been told by Manchester City that he is not the kind of role model they want at the club.

In a brutally honest assessment of the ­Italy international, City's influential ­Football Administrator Brian Marwood admitted Balotelli has an image problem that is now causing concern within the hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium.

Asked what kind of role model ­Balotelli represents, Marwood admitted: "I think that it's important to make a good example.

"I think - and we all know who we are talking about - that you will get people within the system who do not show the right values and the right behaviour.

"In the main, we have a ­fantastic group of players here.

"I look at [Pablo] Zabaleta, I look at [Vincent] Kompany, I look at Joe Hart, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.

"I think we have a lot of players who can behave in the right way.

"You just have to make sure that THEY are the role models."