Uefa open disciplinary proceedings against Porto over alleged racist abuse of Manchester City's Mario Balotelli

City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that Balotelli has been unfazed by the alleged racist abuse, claiming that the forward is able to cope with the insults.

“Mario is strong enough for this,” Mancini said. “What happened can happen sometimes in Italy or France, but Mario is strong.”

In a BBC Radio 5 Live profile this evening, entitled The Surreal Mario Balotelli, the City forward’s first professional coach reveals that the player has endured a battle against racism since his debut as a 15 year-old.

Giovanni Valenti, who coached Balotelli at AC Lumezzane, said: “I was at the game he [Balotelli] made his professional debut for Lumezzane in Serie C against Padova and the Padova fans chanted racist abuse at him.

“He was just 15 years old, playing on his own up front. He came on as a sub and the first thing he did was to nutmeg someone before he was badly fouled.

“Did the abuse affect him? No, not at all. He didn’t give a damn. He was just delighted to be playing.

“I think his ability, combined with the colour of his skin, provoked a certain amount of jealousy and antipathy. Growing up, Mario went through a period in which he felt he was not accepted because he was black.”

Balotelli was subjected to racist abuse from Far Right supporters while playing for Italy in Austria in November 2010 and Valenti admits that he has been forced to overcome prejudice on many occasions simply because of the colour of his skin.

Valenti added: “I think it [being black] made things more difficult for him. Although Italy still has an issue with racism today, the situation was worse 15 or so years ago, so I think it was more of a problem than a benefit.

“As a kid playing football, Mario would stick up for the other boys who weren’t so good. He was very protective of the weaker boys.

“It stems from the fact that Mario was one of the first black kids to come through the youth system in Italy.”

“The Surreal Mario Balotelli” on BBC Radio 5 Live from 7.30pm on Tuesday evening