Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has reiterated that Mario Balotelli will not leave in January.
The 22-year-old striker almost took City to a Premier League tribunal on Wednesday, but eventually decided to pay the £340,000 fine imposed on him by the English champions for his poor disciplinary record last season.
"Mario is unlucky: he is ill this week," BBC Sport quotes him as saying. "It is normal when someone makes a mistake he should take responsibility and Mario did this.
"It's important for him to respect himself. I am his manager and if he deserves another chance I give him another chance."
City will host Reading in the Premier League on Saturday.
