On Monday night Mario Balotelli scored one of the best goals of this European Championships so far. As the corner came over Balotelli swivelled and hit a swiping bicycle kick into the back of the net past a sprawling Shay Given.
That moment of brilliance was far removed from his displays in the first two group games against Spain and Croatia. Substituted twice, he had shown the same sulky, lazy attitude shown in the latter games of the 2011/12 season for Manchester City.
On Monday he found himself on the bench, left out for Antonio Di Natale. His goal was followed by a strange goal celebration, in which a gesture to the bench resulted in centre-back Leonardo Bonucci covering Balotelli’s mouth to stop him getting himself into trouble.
Aside from his ongoing controversies off the pitch, it is his performances on the pitch which have started to cause concern. A few months ago I wrote another piece on Balotelli for MCFC View, in which I praised Mario and hoped he would prove his doubters wrong.
Judging from recent performances his dream of being the best player in the world is slipping.
He is capable of moments of absolute genius, as proved last night, but these moments of brilliance need to make up for the tantrums and the often lazy displays.
When he found himself one on one with Iker Casillas in the first group game this summer, he ambled away from Gerard Pique, paused, and was then dispossessed by the Barcelona man. This isn’t the kind of thing you’d ever see from Lionel Messi or even Wayne Rooney.
But you do still have to consider his moments of class, the Balotelli specials’ which no one else could do. Leading the line alongside an injury-carrying Carlos Tevez, Balotelli won Man of the Match as City won the FA Cup in 2011.
He was brilliant as City beat United 6-1 last season, the highlight being his nonchalant finish past David De Gea from the edge of the box. This is what’s so frustrating about the man, boy, whatever you want to call him. At times he is unplayable, such as in the games just mentioned, at other times he wouldn’t look out of place on the village green on a Sunday morning.
The hope is always that when he produces something like he did last night, it will kick start the strange workings inside Mario Balotelli’s mind. The rest of this tournament, and the next season at Manchester City could shape his whole career.
At 22, there’s still time for him to really kick on, but if it’s going to happen it needs to happen soon. Messi had already won the FIFA World Player of the Year award at that age.
There are signs of his off the pitch antics slowing down, he hasn’t been on the front page of a British tabloid for a good few months now! And maybe if he can get a hold on that, he can concentrate on becoming the very best footballer he can be, because he certainly has the ability to be one of the world’s best.
Expect the unexpected.
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