Balotelli said sorry for his conduct at the Emirates Stadium, a gesture Mancini accepted, and he could now be playing again before the end of the season.

That seemed unlikely as he was hit with an automatic three-match ban with the possibility of further action over a studs-up challenge on Alex Song.

But after avoiding additional punishment, there could now be a future for him at City if he changes his ways.

Mancini said: "If he wants to stay he should change his mind.

"I spoke with Mario a lot of times about this.

"I don't think he can stay here for 10 years together with me. This is impossible.

"But if tomorrow, or in two or three years, he changes managers or squads, it is important he changes his behaviour.

"He has a lot of quality but he can lose it with his attitude."

Balotelli has courted controversy for his antics on and off the field throughout his two seasons at City.

Theo van Seggelen, the secretary general of world players' union FIFPro, believes Balotelli has to accept he has a problem.

Van Seggelen told BBC Sport: "I think he is a good guy but he has to change his behaviour for two reasons.

"First he is a role model, but also he is playing in a team and he is playing against another team and he has to respect his colleagues.

"I think that we have to realise and conclude that, after all these incidents, my personal opinion is that he needs, really, professional help.

"I don't want to blame Manchester City because it is his own responsibility, but Manchester City [have] their responsibility.

"I have looked back over all the incidents that happened in the last couple of years and it seems to me he is apologising all the time, but he has proved he cannot do it by himself and therefore I said he really needs professional help."