Exclusive - Rodney Marsh: Mario Balotelli's Manchester derby showing was last straw for Roberto Mancini

Rodney Marsh claims Mario Balotelli’s performance during the Manchester derby defeat was the ‘last straw’ for Blues boss Roberto Mancini.

The Italian is set for a Serie A return, with both AC Milan and Juventus interested in securing the 22-year-old’s services.

Balotelli has appeared just twice for City following his removal at the start of the second-half against Manchester United, and former Maine Road favourite Marsh claims his poor showing against the Red Devils was the final nail in the coffin.

“I won’t be sorry to see him leave the Premier League,” he told Hawksbee and Jacobs. “Mario Balotelli is one of the most talented footballers I’ve seen.

“If you look at him in the Euros he was fantastic, but in the last three or four months I’ve seen his attitude, both on and off the pitch, deteriorate.

“It’s not conducive for a good team spirit. He was embarrassing during the first 45-minuites against Man United at home.

“He needed to give a big performance to get the result, he was playing at home in front of his own fans.

“He started the game instead of Carlos Tevez but City were 2-0 down when he came off and they couldn’t recover. From that point on he’s hardly played a game.”