Roberto Mancini believes Mario Balotelli 'is at risk of following the same path as Adriano'

It would be a tragedy if Mario Balotelli's career unfolded in a similar manner to Adriano's, but Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini legitimately worries that such a scenario is possible.

In conversation with Corriere della Sera, Mancini, who managed Balotelli during his first stint at Inter as well as at Manchester City, drew what many will surely view as an extreme comparison between the Italian striker and Adriano, whose off-the-pitch issues ruined what could have been a prolific career and who is currently featuring for Ligue 2 side Le Havre.

"I have not heard from Mario since we worked together at Manchester City," Mancini said, according to the Liverpool Echo.

"He was still a kid when we were together at Inter. He would do anything I asked him and he also behaved well at City. It has all gone downward a bit since he left City. I thought he would do well at Milan, but it didn't happen. Mario is at risk of following the same path as Adriano. I hope that he wakes up one morning and realizes that he is wasting everything."

It should be noted that Balotelli, 24, is eight years younger than Adriano, and has yet to see his career marred by alcoholism or rejected charges of drug trafficking.