Nice boss Favre: Balotelli needs to be treated with respect

Nice manager Lucien Favre has come to the aid of oft-criticised striker Mario Balotelli, claiming the mercurial Italian is "not difficult" to handle if treated properly.

With three sending-offs during his debut campaign with the Cote d'Azur darling, the enigmatic forward is again in the spotlight despite a relatively tame season under Favre at Nice.

Favre reckons that for Balotelli, deference is a two-way street.

"It's not difficult if you have respect for Mario and Mario has it for the others," Favre told Nice-Matin, as translated by ESPN FC's Ian Holyman.

Balotelli's first season at Nice has been a mixed bag after a summer move from Liverpool freed him from Jurgen Klopp's doghouse. The 26-year-old has bagged 10 league goals in 15 starts paired with three cautions and three red cards.

The Palermo-reared striker has faced several obstacles this season. Italy manager Giampiero Ventura expressed his intention to talk with the enigmatic forward about a national team spot after earlier citing Balotelli's history of misconduct as the reason he was unlikely to make the squad. Balotelli was also the subject of racist taunts during a Corsican visit to Bastia two months before a contentious sending-off against Lorient.

Related - Watch: Balotelli sees 3rd red this season for dissent in win vs. Lorient

While it hasn't been a straightforward campaign, his 10 goals in Ligue 1 are second on the team behind the injured Alassane Plea's 11, and Balotelli's goal haul this season is set to eclipse a career-best 14 scored during the 2013-14 term with AC Milan.

Favre maintains that he has no complaints concerning Balotelli's football.

"He trains well - you can't reproach him for that," he said. "I ask him to do more tracking back, to win back possession, but I do it without shouting."