Jose plays hard ball with Balotelli

Italian media quoted Balotelli's brother and agent on Monday as saying that the 18-year-old wanted to spend the rest of the season on loan at another club after getting limited playing time under Mourinho this term.

The Portuguese coach responded by leaving the player out of his squad for Tuesday's Italian Cup tie at home to Genoa after also dropping him for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Cagliari in Serie A.

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