[lapInsalm]

Hi all.

Good player in a great team...that's for no doubt.
With time and with an appropiate behavior, he could become a great star, I think good friends are very important for people who earns such amounts of money and have it all.
At the moment, he already has played in Juve and Inter. He didn't leave good memories in these clubs, and those are doors closed for him...He's had already some problem with Mancini, so, I think we have to wait to see Mario confirmed as a great player.

[hablyShappY]

Every time I see this I think it's a thread about

and then I feel silly

[outsitWrord]

In an age where footballers arn't known for their brains, he mkes David Beckham look like Einstein. As if not being able to put a training bib on and throwing darts at youth team players was bad enough, now he sets fire to his house by letting off fireworks in his bathroom!

• Mario Balotelli of Manchester City, whose house was set on fire as he and friends let off fireworks from a window. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer
  
  Mario Balotelli's remarkable capacity for self-inflicted problems resurfaced on the eve of the Manchester derby when he had to escape from his burning house after a fire caused by letting off fireworks in the bathroom in the early hours of Saturday morning.
  Balotelli escaped unhurt but will be summoned to see Roberto Mancini to explain the latest moment of madness in his chequered career. City have been contacted by the fire service and Mancini will want to know what Balotelli was doing putting himself in such a position before their biggest match of the season.
  Two fire crews using breathing apparatus put out the flames after being called to Balotelli's house just before 1am on Saturday to deal with what has been described as "a substantial fire" on the first floor. The property, in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, sustained serious fire and smoke damage and the police were also called – in part to ensure Balotelli did not go back into the house. The striker is said to have been reluctant to leave his belongings and, at one point, to have run back inside to recover a quantity of money and a suitcase.
  A police spokesman said: "At just before 1am on Saturday we were called to a report of a house fire at a residential home in Mottram St Andrew. Police provided assistance to Cheshire fire and rescue service as well as ensuring residents were accounted for and there was no danger to surrounding properties. At this time, the cause of the fire is being examined by fire investigators and the police. However, it is not thought to be suspicious."
  Balotelli checked into a Manchester hotel and took part in training as normal at 10am. He has told club officials he and four friends were setting off fireworks through an open window. The bathroom towels set on fire and the blaze quickly spread. Balotelli has claimed that one of his friends had set off the firework. That, however, is unlikely to spare the player a reprimand from Mancini and a reminder that City's management staff would have expected him to be asleep at that time rather than exposing himself to the possibility of serious injury.
  A statement from the fire service said: "Four breathing apparatus and two hose reel water jets were used to deal with the fire and a large fan was used to clear the smoke from the property. Crews managed to put out the fire within half an hour of arriving but remained at the scene until 2.45 am to prevent any possible flare-ups. Smoke alarms were fitted at the property and the occupiers were able to get out unharmed. The fire was caused by a firework."
  The incident comes at a bad time for Balotelli after Mancini's recent statements about noticing a "big improvement" in the player's behaviour. Balotelli has scored in his last four games and a major part of City's pre-derby training has been set up around him getting behind United's defence.
  Mancini said on Friday that he hoped Balotelli was "changing his mentality" and putting behind him the controversies that have accompanied him since he signed from Internazionale for £25m last year.
  Balotelli has established himself as one of the more controversial figures in English football, his list of misdemeanours including an internal investigation after he was seen throwing darts at youth-team players.
  Balotelli was substituted in the first half of a pre-season match in Los Angeles after he was given a simple chance to score and tried to back-heel the ball into the net, missing the target entirely. Yet he insisted in an interview in the past few days that he was growing up and would steer clear of controversy before, during and after the derby.
  He has recently moved from Manchester city centre and said he was living in the countryside for a quieter life.
  
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...rks?CMP=twt_gu

[POMAH_K]

He's just a fucking legend.

[hictchewisa]

he doesn't have scoring difficulties

[reachmanxx]

In fairness to him, he's a black Italian which is the equivalent of being a Scouser in Italy. The Juve fans were racist towards him because of this, didn't recognize him as an Italian etc. So he had that to overcome. Humble pie time, he's a cracking player when on form, he's very eccentric though.

[POMAH_K]

He's also only 20-21. Which by my calculations makes him the only Italian under 30 not living with his mother.

[reachmanxx]

Balotelli's latest....

Controversial Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is facing an internal investigation and possible disciplinary action after breaching the club's late-night curfew ahead of Monday's Premier League match at Chelsea.

Balotelli was spotted in Manchester curry house Zouk in the early hours of Sunday morning despite club rules stating players must not be out socialising within 48 hours of a game.

The 21-year-old Italian, who was not drinking alcohol, signed autographs, posed for pictures with fellow diners and was involved in a mock sword-fight using rolling pins


Brilliant lol.gif

Am I the only one who doesn't have a problem with that? Yeah he's breached club discipline, but he only went for a Curry. And had a swordfight. Like any good night out. Anyway he went out for a Curry, that's it. He didn't drink, he didn't vandalise property, he didn't break the speed limit in his convertible bentley. He went for a curry. Lighten up.

[wrewsTear]

Honestly Mario Balotelli is one of my favorite footballers at the moment, he brings such life to the game both on and off the pitch. I'm not a Man City supporter (although I'd rather see them win the league than Utd) but the man is just brilliant to watch.

[outsitWrord]

The more I see of him the more he makes me laugh! Apparently he was driving around Manchester in a blue santa hat handing out money to people. When he first came over here he crashed his supercar and when the police asked why he had 5 grand in cash in his back pocket, replied "because I'm rich". Also, when in Italy, he and his brother ramraided a womens prison and when asked why they did it, he replied "I wanted to have a look around". Long may his antics continue!