Mario Balotelli was at the centre of controversy again on Thursday night as Manchester City crashed out of the Europa League to Dynamo Kiev. The Italy striker was red-carded for a chest-high lunge at Goran Popov in the first half of a 1-0 win, which saw City lose 2-1 on aggregate. There were later reports he got out of his car and confronted a group of Kiev fans outside Eastlands.
City boss Roberto Mancini said: ‘When he does stupid things like tonight, it’s difficult for me, for him and for the team.’
There was no excuse for Balotelli's latest on-pitch aberration 10 minutes before the end of the first half. It brought the second red card of his short City career and left his team-mates having to play a man down for the best part of an hour as they narrowly failed to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg. The 20-year-old arrived with a dubious reputation when City signed him from Inter Milan for £24million last summer and so far he has lived up to it. As well as the two reds, there have been nine yellow cards.
Moments after racing towards referee Cuneyt Cakir last night, arms flailing, about a decision that had gone against him, he gave the Turkish official no excuse but to send him off. Balotelli lunged toward Goran Popov as the Kiev defender played the ball down the touchline in the 36th minute, cynically raking the studs of his left boot down his opponent's chest to his thigh.
Nigel de Jong asks Manchester City fans to go easy on Mario Balotelli
Disconsolate Mario Balotelli apologised to his Manchester City team-mates after his dismissal cost the Blues a place in the Europa League quarter-final.
The Italian is set to be dropped for Sunday’s league crunch at Chelsea after his straight red card for raking his studs down Dynamo Kiev defender Goran Popov.
But City stalwart Nigel de Jong said Balotelli regretted his actions, and had taken on board advice from team-mates after the match, which the Blues won 1-0 to go out on aggregate.
De Jong knows all about the stigma attached to such challenges, as he is still being demonised for his similar challenge on Xabi Alonso in last summer’s World Cup final, which went unpunished.
And he pleaded with the media and City fans not to be too hard on the youngster.
“He is a young boy of 20 years old and he has to learn from his mistakes – I told him, and everyone told him,” said de Jong, one of ten City heroes who almost hauled back the tie against the odds.
“He is still part of the squad, and has a lot of potential. He is a very good player but has to realise you have to change your mentality sometimes on a professional level.
“We are there to help him and not to criticise him or blast him away. He is still a young lad and has to learn. He has experienced guys around him and has to listen to them about what he can do better.”
Balotelli did not flee the scene of the crime – he waited behind the scenes in order to say sorry to the rest of the team.
“He was angry and he was disappointed,” said de Jong. “He let his team down in a way but he knows it and it is a good lesson for him. We were disappointed with it, but that is football. Sometimes you make mistakes and Mario made his mistake today – he will get everything straight again.”
De Jong stopped short of saying the dismissal cost City the game, but said it certainly made life harder.
“It’s difficult to say because after the sending-off we scored a goal, so it was 50-50,” he said.
“We had a good feeling in the camp but we were playing against a wall of 11 men and they tried to keep their lead from the first game. It would have been easier if we had 11 men.”
Balotelli will not have to serve a three-match suspension until his next three European games, which could be important Champions League clashes if City can land a top-four place.
It was a bad night all round for Balotelli. There were unconfirmed reports that his car had been surrounded by Dynamo fans on the way to the game, and he got out to remonstrate with them.
Then he had problems donning a bib during the warm-up and angrily asked for help from one of the City coaching staff after throwing the item away.
During the game he missed an open goal and then was subjected to a couple of fouls that went unpunished
Manchester City youngster Abdul Razak granted permission to remain in the UK
Roberto Mancini expressed delight after Abdul Razak was granted permission to ply his trade in the UK with Manchester City.
The young midfielder had been given temporary leave to remain in the UK, but may have had to return to Ivory Coast when his time expired.
But with the Home Office ruling in his favour, the Eastlands prodigy is free to pursue his career at City.
"This is great news for both Abdul and Manchester City," Mancini said, according to The Times.
"He is a talented footballer and a very good young man who now has the opportunity to make the most of his ability as a footballer.
"I have been very impressed with his attitude and technique. He has been training with the first team for a while now.
"I know a lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes on Abdul’s case and I would like to thank everyone connected with the case for their efforts.
"I believe he has the ability to become a very important player for Manchester City and am looking forward to seeing him progress."
WAG OF THE DAY
OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea could up sticks from Stamford Bridge and move to White City in bid to build bigger stadium
Pundit Mark Lawrenson set a few hares running with his on-air claim that he had been told by “contacts” that Chelsea were about to leave Stamford Bridge for a new stadium. Chelsea are looking at the possibility of a move away from Stamford Bridge so they can accommodate even more fans in the stands. The announcement was made on Radio Five Live prior to the Champions League tie against FC Copenhagen and immediately led to speculation that Chelsea had finally struck a deal to move to the nearby Earl’s Court site which they have looked at in the past.
Not so it seems. In fact Lawrenson’s revelation came on the day that the site’s owners, Capital & Counties, published their long-anticipated masterplan which includes the building of 7,500 new homes across 77-acres and the regeneration of the 77-acre plot.
And no football stadium. Indeed it seems the window of opportunity for Chelsea to de-camp to Earl’s Court has definitely closed.
Chelsea are plotting a move for Real Madrid and Spain defender Sergio Ramos. Daily Mirror
And the Blues are in competition with Inter Milan for the signing of highly rated forward Ganso. talkSPORT
However, the Stamford Bridge club's pursuit of Brazilian youngster Lucas Piazon has been criticised by Juventus sporting director Giuseppe Marotta. Daily Mail
Liverpool's answer to their left-back problem could be Osasuna defender Nacho Monreal, who has been watched by Reds director of football strategy Damien Comolli. Daily Mail
Aston Villa are set to renew their interest in Manchester United's Michael Owen following suggestions that Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson has finally run out of patience with the injury-prone striker. Metro
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is monitoring the progress of £7m-rated Schalke striker Mario Gavranovic. talkSPORT
Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson, whose contract expires in the summer, is a transfer target for Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna. Daily Mirror
AC Milan are ready to test Newcastle's resolve with a £10m bid for left-back Jose Enrique in the summer. talkSPORT
Former Football Association compliance officer Graham Bean was part of Sir Alex Ferguson's defence in the hearing which resulted in the Manchester United manager being given a five-match touchline ban for comments about referee Martin Atkinson. Bean has labelled the FA a "communist state" and says he has seen confidential reports by assessors criticising Atkinson. Daily Express
Manchester United's owners could make the wages of their players more incentive based in a scheme which has not gone down well with players. the Sun
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez says midfielder James McCarthy will decide on whether to play for Scotland or the Republic of Ireland after the season is over.Daily Star
Mark Hughes has admitted he is flattered to be linked with the Bayern Munich job but claims he is happy to remain at Fulham.
The Welshman boasts an impressive CV having improved the fortunes of his national side and Blackburn Rovers and despite an unsuccessful spell at Manchester City, he is once again increasing his stock while in charge of Fulham.
The former Manchester United striker had a loan spell at Bayern Munich during an illustrious playing career though he has no intentions of returning there in the near future. "It's very flattering but I'm quite happy doing what I'm doing at the moment," said the Fulham manager, as quoted by The Guardian.
"Sometimes, when a job becomes vacant then people look around to see whether there are any connections in terms of past playing careers or whatever. I think there's no more in it than that."
Current Bayern boss Louis van Gaal is set to step down from the German giants at the end of the season while Hughes’ contract at Craven Cottage expires at the end of the next campaign.
The 47-year-old is keen to try his hand at management abroad one-day though it is something that he is happy to put on hold.
"If opportunities in the future present themselves, I think it would be part of my football education and something that I'd want to do," he added. "But I'm not looking to do it at the moment."
Apart from replacing Edwin van der Sar this summer, the other priority Sir Alex Ferguson has is finding a dominant central midfielder. Paul Scholes hasn’t given any indication of whether he will retire this summer although many feel it will be his last and Michael Carrick unable to perform when it matters, Fergie most look for more creative options in central midfield.
Many reports have linked United with Javier Pastore, along with a host of other clubs, however Sir Alex is set to favour the cheaper option of Mathieu Valbuena. While Pastore is set to cost at least £35 million, Valbuena would available for around half that. This would allow the United manager to have the funds left over for a top goalie.
However United aren’t the only team sniffing around Valbuena with Barcelona also rumoured to be interested in the Frenchman. Barcelona are also interested in Pastore so it may well come down to a case of whoever takes Pastore first will leave the door open for Valbuena.
The agent of Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena has revealed the 26-year-old playmaker is hugely flattered by the alleged interest from Premier League leaders Manchester United and their La Liga counterparts Barcelona.
The diminutive Ligue 1 star has been mentioned as a potential heir to Red Devils’ veteran Paul Scholes. He certainly has some of the attributes required with superb technical skills, ability to make space and something Scholes lacks which is great pace.
Although Valbuena’s agent, Christophe Hutteau, claims the player is concentrating solely on Marseille’s commitments this season, he conceded the midfielder is hugely honoured by the rumoured overtures from two of Europe’s biggest clubs, because it is great recognition of his ability.
Hutteau told L’Equipe: “There are 12 matches left and now is not the time to discuss the future of Mathieu……It would be a total disrespect to Olympique de Marseille and the rest of his team-mates. He added: “Mathieu has much affection for l’OM, though clearly to be linked to clubs like Barcelona or Manchester United is very promising.”
Many fans may remember Valbuena for his man-of-the-match performance during France’s recent international against England at Wembley.
