Balotelli then.

[Hazy2]

One of my pals attended the golf day some time ago,he was told Mancini, is prone to flying of the handle at Players, Physios, pretty much anyone can get both barrels, he is as normal as they come the following day, maybe this could be confirmed by others.

[BobKowalski]

One of my pals attended the golf day some time ago,he was told Mancini, is prone to flying of the handle at Players, Physios, pretty much anyone can get both barrels, he is as normal as they come the following day, maybe this could be confirmed by others.

No idea if that is true but Mario did say one thing in an interview about Mancini is that 'he (Mancini) says it to my face' and not by implication behind his back as others are prone to do.

I think Mancini likes Mario simply because he sees himself and Mario responds to Mancini because he's straight with him and Mario also knows that Mancini has his corner and therefore trusts him. I don't know for fact but I get the impression Mario doesn't trust a lot of people outside of family. Just an impression though.

[phips]

Nigel chimed in on this whole thing.

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong fears the talent of team-mate Mario Balotelli will go to waste if the striker does not change his ways.

The 20-year-old Italian this weekend angered boss Roberto Mancini, who hauled the striker off after he attempted a trick shot in the club's friendly against Los Angeles Galaxy.
De Jong was particularly demonstrative in his remonstrations with Balotelli at the time and he admits that his team-mate is a frustration.

The Dutchman is quoted as saying by The Guardian: "I've played with some strange characters in the past but it's the first time I have seen that.

"It is frustrating, and he has to iron out those issues otherwise it will be a waste of his talent. He has to realise that now.

"All his team-mates are here to help him but he's his own person and he is the only one who can change his ways."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 46,00.html

[Mase]

Nigel chimed in on this whole thing.

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong fears the talent of team-mate Mario Balotelli will go to waste if the striker does not change his ways.

The 20-year-old Italian this weekend angered boss Roberto Mancini, who hauled the striker off after he attempted a trick shot in the club's friendly against Los Angeles Galaxy.
De Jong was particularly demonstrative in his remonstrations with Balotelli at the time and he admits that his team-mate is a frustration.

The Dutchman is quoted as saying by The Guardian: "I've played with some strange characters in the past but it's the first time I have seen that.

"It is frustrating, and he has to iron out those issues otherwise it will be a waste of his talent. He has to realise that now.

"All his team-mates are here to help him but he's his own person and he is the only one who can change his ways."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 46,00.html

Worst thing about that is that Nige should know by keep talking about this to the media it takes longer to go away. Just as when he was strung out to dry, City kept quiet and didn't respond to any of the media at the time.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I have no doubt that whatever Nigel has said about Mario it was agreed within the "team". Coming from such a key player as well it will have some authority.

[shawzy]

The most viewed video on Youtube so far this week..Well over 4mill hits in 2 days...Whether its for the right or wrong reasons Balo doesn't half get us noticed lol.

[Rag_hater]

By the sounds of some of the comments on this thread a few people sound as if they want to applaud Bobby for blowing up a situation that could have been handled less publically,making a mountain out of a molehill,disgracing and humiliating a young man,pissing of a talent that he himself has nurtured and is trying to develop.He has also shown a two faced side of his nature by behaving the way he has.
I think Bobby needs to privately eat a bit of humble pie.

Bollox, sometimes situations present themselves and they need to be handled there and then. Balotelli will be left in no doubt that Mancini is not pandering to his eccentricity and expects him to play the game with 100% commitment and professionalism.

I am not a balo basher and actually welcome what he brings to the party. However, we need someone VERY strong at the helm and Mancini went up in my estimation after this weekend. Well done to him.

My boss told me laughing his 13 year old had already given it a go at training yesterday.

I think that's the point.I think on another thread WW says his kid is trying it-
I have seen Zidane do such a thing(for me the most balletic I have ever seen it),Shrek and Goofy.Non of them with a shot at the end like our Mario and in the middle of the pitch.For me what our Mario did a lot of kids will not have seen and as the play was dead and there was no harm in his actions a little bit of showboating to show how good he is for me is a pleasure to watch.The negativity that has followed for me is way OTT.Bobby's reaction most of all.
There are better ways of showing who is boss(if he feels that insecure)although why anybody thinks otherwise is a mystery

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Let's face it, I love Balo but it was a cuntish arrogant thing to do. He knew he wasn't offside and it just showed a complete lack of respect for the opposition and the game itself. Fair enough try something fancy when nothing else is on but to try it when you have a sitter is just stupid and I'm very glad Mancini took him off, he'll learn from it.

[Mase]

Read in the paper yesterday the headline "Italian Thug!"
Seriously??!! The guy has tried a trick and messed up, whether he thought he was offside or not. He's no thug. I'll defend any City player who has their back to the wall for something so small, and so should every City fan.

[dazby]

I listened to a podcast of radio 5 about the incident. 4 studio presenters and a person at the ground. They all said they watched the incident but not ONE of them mentioned the fact that Balo thought he was offside or that he heard a whistle. I was stunned.

[Chinners]

I really can't believe this thread has got to 6 pages and that the media are still report this 'watershed moment' in football 4 days later ... very bizzare stuff. I'd bet we get less media coverage if we won the CL this season

[FBlue]

Poor Balo, he just tried that FIFA 11 roulette but turned "L3" with the touch of a rapist...

[phips]

Fairly interesting article below about the last year or so of Balotelli's career and personal life. (There are links embedded for further reading so just go to the main link if you wanna see those)

A Year In the Life of Mario Balotelli

Barely a week has gone by in the last year when Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has not hit the headlines for some reason - and we should know, we've checked.
After his latest indiscretion against LA Galaxy last week we have decided to trawl through our archives from the last year and collate all our favourite stories about the Italian striker in one place.

There was plenty for us to choose from too - even without having the rights for THAT bib incident.

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you - a year in the life of Mario Balotelli.

+++

Date: 10/08/2010

Headline: Balotelli slams birth parents

Story: Manchester City target Mario Balotelli has slammed his birth parents for giving an interview to a newspaper in Brescia - the town where he grew up. The 19-year-old Internazionale striker was born in Palermo to Ghanaian parents but was adopted by the Balotellis in Brescia when he was just two. "I had already asked my birth parents to respect my privacy, just as my family always has done, but they didn't listen to me," Balotelli said in a statement released on his personal website.

Read full story

+++

Date: 28/08/201

Headline: Balotelli unhurt after car crash

Story: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was unhurt after crashing his car on Saturday morning, police have confirmed. The 20-year-old Italian, yet to make his Premier League debut for City since joining for £25 million from European champions Internazionale, was at the wheel of his Audi A8 when it collided with another car in Chester Road, Hulme.

Read full story

+++

Date: 07/11/2010

Headline: Balotelli brace and red in City win

Story: Mario Balotelli scored twice before being sent off as Manchester City ended their three-game losing streak with a solid 2-0 win at West Brom. The former Internazionale striker, signed for a whopping £24 million during the summer, converted the opener from close range on 20 minutes as he bundled home Carlos Tevez's cross before turning Gabriel Tamas to fire home the second six minutes later. The shine was taken off Balotelli's big return to the side when he was sent off for aiming a boot at the grounded Youssouf Mulumbu on 62 minutes for no apparent reason.

Read full story

+++

Date: 13/12/2010

Headline: Balotelli throws an epic strop

Story: With Carlos Tevez desperate to leave, Mario Balotelli could be called upon to spearhead Manchester City's Premier League title challenge. However, against West Ham on Saturday his eye for goal deserted him, as did his composure as he flew into a rage early in the second half and nearly got sent off for the second time in four Premier League games.

Read full story

+++

Date: 21/12/2010

Headline: Balotelli wins award, mocks Wilshere

Story: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli claimed he does not know who Jack Wilshere is after winning Tuttosport's Golden Boy trophy as the best player under the age of 21.

Read full story

+++


Date: 18/01/2011

Headline: Balotelli: Rooney not best in Manchester

Story: Mario Balotelli has proclaimed Manchester City's strike force to be the best in the world - and at the same time dismissed Wayne Rooney as the number one forward in the city.

Read full story

+++

Date: 11/03/2011

Headline: Balotelli suffers allergic reaction to grass

Story: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will monitor Mario Balotelli's fitness after the Italian striker suffered an allergic reaction during the Europa League defeat by Dynamo Kiev.

Read full story

+++

Date: 18/03/2011

Headline: Mancini mad at 'stupid' Balotelli

Story: Manager Roberto Mancini has accused Mario Balotelli of stupidity in picking up a red card that contributed to Manchester City being knocked out of the Europa League.

Read full story

+++

Date: 20/03/2011

Headline: Mancini 'lobbed luggage at Balotelli'

Story: Roberto Mancini reportedly threw a suitcase at Mario Balotelli following his sending off and Manchester City's subsequent exit from the Europa League.

Read full story

+++

Date: 21/03/2011

Headline: Balotelli tells coach: I need help

Story: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has revealed that Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has told him that he needs help.

Read full story

+++

Date: 27/03/2011

Headline: Balotelli 'threw darts from window'

Story: Manchester City are set to discuss Mario Balotelli's disciplinary issues after the striker was reportedly caught throwing darts from a first floor window. The People claims that Balotelli lobbed the missiles in the direction of youth team players because he was "bored".

Read full story

+++

Date: 17/04/2001

Headline: Ferdinand 'sorry' but attacks Balotelli

Story: Rio Ferdinand hit out at Mario Balotelli for taunting Manchester United fans after Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley. Balotelli incensed Ferdinand and his United team-mates after the final whistle by thrusting the badge on his shirt in the direction of opposition supporters.

Read full story

+++

Date: 20/04/2011

Headline: Balotelli and Terry in charitable acts

Story: Manchester City bad boy Mario Balotelli celebrated a £25,000 win at 235 Casino in Manchester by giving £1,000 to a tramp he bumped into outside.

Read full story

+++

Date: 25/04/2011

Headline: Balotelli's car impounded 27 times

Summary: The Sun claims that since signing for City last summer, Mario Balotelli has had his luxury Maserati car impounded an astonishing 27 times. The paper adds that the Italian has also received an average of three parking tickets A DAY, which has seen him notch up "nearly £10,000" in parking fines.

Read full story

+++

Date: 10/05/2011

Headline: Balotelli saves boy from bullying

Summary: Manchester City star Mario Balotelli has become an unlikely hero after rescuing a bullied schoolboy from his tormentor.

Read full story

+++

Date: 01/06/2011

Headline: Balotelli's Lake District getaway

Summary: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is eschewing glamorous hotspots such as Monaco and Las Vegas in order to spend his holidays walking in the Lake District. It seems he has a gentler side, and he will split his holidays between walking in Cumbria and going on safari in Kenya.

Read full story

+++

Date: 06/06/2011

Headline: Balotelli shown round Naples by mafia mobsters

Summary: Mario Balotelli is once again at the centre of a controversy after it emerged that he was given a tour of Naples by two mafia chiefs. A secret memo leaked by the Italian police revealed the Manchester City star was shown around the city's notorious Scampia estate by mob bosses named as Salvatore Silvestri and Biagio Esposito.

Read full story

+++

Date: 19/07/2011

Headline: Balotelli buys motorbike, immediately banned from riding it

Summary: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has bought himself a Harley-Davidson motorbike which he may never have the chance to use. The club have banned him from riding the bike for insurance reasons, with the risk of sustaining an injury while using it too great.

Read full story

+++

Date: 24/07/2011

Headline: Mancini hauls off disrespectful Balotelli in LA

Summary: Controversial striker Mario Balotelli was taken off in disgrace just past the half-hour mark of Manchester City's pre-season friendly against the LA Galaxy.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... cle/62225/

[phips]

Meanwhile, Mancini has also revealed his frustration at dealing with the antics of controversial striker Balotelli.

The talented but volatile Italian has had an eventful pre-season. He was substituted before half-time in a friendly against LA Galaxy for attempting a cheeky back-heel when clean though on goal, he has openly complained about living Manchester and then had a training ground bust-up with team-mate Aleksandar Kolarov.

"I have to speak to Mario every single day and I think maybe now I need a psychologist," said Mancini.

"I don't know why he does the things he does, except to say that he is a young guy who will eventually grow up.

"But I have known him since he was 17 and he is even worse now than he was then. We all do crazy things. I did crazy things, you did crazy things.

"But players these days are different to what they were 20 years ago. When I was a young player I was stronger mentally than players these days. We had less money but more hunger.

"Mario is young and I understand he is home sick because it is not easy for a young guy to be away from his family.

"Sometimes I have been really disappointed with him and at other times I understand his behaviour.

"But I think he must now understand that he must improve his behaviour for the good of the team."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11661_7085902,00.html