Balotelli must behave like a champion, not a child - Allegri

The forward was sent off on Sunday and his
absence from the next three domestic games
has annoyed his coach
AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has warned
star striker Mario Balotelli to stop behaving
like a child and start acting like a champion.
The Italy international was sent off in the
Rossoneri's 2-1 defeat against table-toppers
Napoli on Sunday which will see him miss the
next three domestic matches, including a Serie
A clash with Juventus.
Allegri, who told his January signing publicly to
"shut up" following the game, has insisted that
Balotelli must be given more protection from
officials in future but accepted that the striker
needs to take it upon himself not to react
rashly and cost his team-mates.
"Mario has made a mistake, penalising the
team, club and the fans and he must change
this," the coach told gathered media on
Tuesday.
"Balotelli should help referees to protect him
because if another player had suffered the
fouls he did on Sunday then they would have
whistled. The referees should be left alone
because they can be influenced by negative
attitudes.
"Mario is 23-years-old, he is no longer a child
and to be a champion you have to have a
correct behaviour because you are an example
for all those who look up to you. I hope for
him he benefits from it and realises that he's
put the team and the club in difficulty.
"You have to go on the pitch thinking about
doing well. When you finish the game you need
to go in the dressing room, accept what
happened and think of working to do better.
The club will decide what to do about Mario."
Milan face Bologna on Wednesday as they bid
to bounce back from the defeat which leaves
them sat in 11th spot in Serie A.