( CNN ) -- Mario Balotelli 's career at Manchester City is hanging in the balance after manager Roberto Mancini gave the clearest indication yet that he is willing to sell the troubled striker . Mancini admitted his patience was wearing thin with the 21-year-old Italian who was sent off for the third time this season in Man City 's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday . When asked if Balotelli would be sold , Mancini said : `` Probably -- but I do n't know . It depends , because Balotelli is a fantastic player . `` Every time we risk one ( man being ) sent off , like today . But he can score also in the last minute . `` It 's clear he 's created big problems , but he 's scored important goals . `` He needs to change his behavior if he wants to improve his life . I 've seen players finish in two or three years with huge talent . He needs to change . '' Sunday 's loss leaves City eight points behind arch rivals Manchester United , dealing a potentially fatal blow to their Premier League title hopes . Balotelli , who has earned a reputation for his controversial antics both on and off the pitch , was red-carded for a foul on Barcary Sagna on Sunday . He could also receive a retrospective punishment from the English Football Association for a dangerous tackle on Alex Song earlier in the game which match officials failed to see . Replays showed Balotelli going in knee-high on the Arsenal midfielder , who escaped serious injury . But despite last week admitting Balotelli was so frustrating he would punch him if they were teammates , Mancini refused to condemn the footballer outright . `` I love him as a guy , I love him as a player , because I know him . He 's not a bad guy . He 's a fantastic player , '' he said . `` But , at this moment , I 'm very sorry because he continues to lose his talent , his quality . `` I hope , for him , that he can understand that he 's in a bad way for his future , and he can change his behavior in the future . '' It is the latest controversy for the forward who crashed his Bentley in Manchester city center last week . But with six games left for City this season and hopes of a first English title in 44 years all but dead in the water , Mancini 's own position at the club will also be under scrutiny . He insisted he was `` 100 % '' the right man for the job , saying : `` When I arrived , City were seventh or eighth . After six months , we were fighting for the Champions League and lost to Tottenham one game from the end . ''
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits Mario Balotelli may be sold . Balotelli sent off for third time this season for two fouls on Barcary ##ão . English FA to call match officials on Balotelli 's earlier foul on midfielder Alex Song .