There’s no denying Mario Balotelli has the skills and ability to become a great player and he is certainly living up to his potential. However, he’s also living up to his reputation, the bad boy reputation that saw him leave Inter Milan after falling with then manager Jose Mourinho.
Balotelli didn’t have a great time at Inter, only scoring 2 goals in 14 appearances but still making the papers due to his antics off the field. Since his move to Manchester he’s shown that he does have the ability, building a good record and competing in the starting line up in a regular player. Balotelli has fought for a place in the starting line up after scoring 11 goals in 16 appearances so far this season. The £24 million fee paid for his services may have been questioned at the time but hes showing his worth now.
Unfortunately, it’s not always a blue sky in the blue half of Manchester, especially with Mario Balotelli. With every great performance comes a stupid move, comment or action. His performance is undermined by continous of the field incidents, the same sort that saw him fall out of favour in Milan. Mancini has already commented on this issue stating that the Italian striker has ‘stayed young too long’.
After scoring the opening goal in the 6-1 thrashing of United, Balotelli unveiled a T-shirt showing the words ‘Why Always Me?’ referring to his portrail in the media. You may have thought he would change his actions after this, turning over a new leaf and becoming a new man. Perhaps becoming more prolific if he was more devoted to the sport, a transformation could see him becoming a huge figure in world football and the front of Italian national side. Did he change his ways? No, not at all.
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Balotelli is currently living in a hotel in the city centre, after friends sparked a fire in his house by letting off fireworks in his bathroom on the eve on the Manchester derby. Mario argues that he wasn’t involved in the inident, but who in their right mind enables their companions to set off fireworks indoors? Balotelli also had to explain to Mancini why he had broken a curfew and was seen out at 1am before the 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Monday. The player seems to consistently infuriate managers by consistently getting himself into trouble.
The latest incident in question occurred in training preparing for the visit of Arsenal, where he and Micah Richards had to be pulled apart at a training session after a confrontation. Occurring during a practice match, witnesses say that words were exchanged before the two squared up. Richards was said to be the most aggrieved by the situation, suggesting that Balotelli started the bust-up due to his comments. This is not his first bust-up at City, previously lashing out at Jerome Boateng after reacting to a challenge and then being photographed clashing with Vincent Kompany back in May.
It seems Balotelli cannot hide away from these incidents, either he finds them or they find him. He doesn’t make things any easier on himself though, remember when he swore on live TV after the FA Cup final? Most of his situations could be avoided if he just engaged his brain before opening his mouth or committing an action. Mancini needs to find him an outlet, Balotelli could backfire at any time and I dare not think about if it happened during an important game. In all honestly, I’m sure this will not be the last we will hear of Balotelli and his shenanigans.
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