Roberto Mancini says he would probably have blocked the sale of Mario Balotelli had he still been in charge at Inter.
The Italian was sold to Mancini's Manchester City over the summer after a turbulent spell in Milan under Jose Mourinho.
"I love Balotelli," Mancini told Max magazine in an interview. "Sure, he's young and like all youngsters he makes mistakes, but I never get upset with him.
"His sale? I wasn't at Inter for the last two years so I don't know what happened," continued the 1990 World Cup player.
Roberto Mancini says he would probably have blocked the sale of Mario Balotelli had he still been in charge at Inter.
The Italian was sold to Mancini's Manchester City over the summer after a turbulent spell in Milan under Jose Mourinho.
"I love Balotelli," Mancini told Max magazine in an interview. "Sure, he's young and like all youngsters he makes mistakes, but I never get upset with him.
"His sale? I wasn't at Inter for the last two years so I don't know what happened," continued the 1990 World Cup player.
"But given that Mario could become the best Italian player there is then I probably wouldn't have let him go. I say probably."
The former Sampdoria star also reflected on the criticism he is receiving at City, but insists he'll have the last laugh.
"They have a problem with me because I am Italian, because I have brought with me a different mentality," he continued.
"A few miss the past, but that is normal. That'll stop in May when we start to win things."
Mancio's boys are just three points off top spot in the Premiership after a 4-1 victory over Fulham at the weekend.