2012 was the year for Mario Balotelli, starring at the European Championship, being touted as the next player who could become the next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, the world was at the feet of the Italian striker and at being only 22, and there was a lot to be expected from the striker.
2016 is the year and right now, Mario Balotelli is set to leave Liverpool on a loan to FC Sion in the Swiss league. While he has been linked with a move to Everton, it does seem unlikely that he would remain in the Premier League and this could have been the end of the story called Mario Balotelli but the big question is, how did things end up so wrong for the gifted Italian striker?
It all started at Inter Milan, even though Balotelli had an unsuccessful trial at Barcelona, it was the Milan side that signed him up and he showed immense quality right from the go as he became Inter’s youngest scorer in the UEFA Champions League at age of 18 years 85 days in 2008.
Things, however, weren’t to get better at Inter Milan and racist chants were hurled at Balotelli in 2009, which was just the start of his issues in Italy. He had frequent issues with then Inter manager Jose Mourinho and the Portuguese did not mince his words as Balo’s work ethic was questioned time and again.
The Italian striker had to deal with more racist chants from Juve fans in 2009 and Mourinho still kept on criticising Balotelli and even dropped him from the Champions League match against Chelsea.
Balo’s party lifestyle was also questioned time and again in Italy and things came to a head when he was spotted wearing an AC Milan jersey, despite being under contract by Inter Milan, on a popular Italian TV show. Balotelli did issue an apology but that didn’t go down well with either set of fans.
His constant tussles with the fans and the manager led him to leave Italy in hopes of finding a new home and hopefully getting back to football and England was his destination of choice.
Premier League glory beckons for Balo
The lucky team to have signed Mario from Inter was Manchester City and Roberto Mancini, the then boss of City, was more than happy to have captured the youngster in 2010. Mancini even expected Balo to shine in the Premier League since his playing style was suited to England and hoped the Italian would get better with each game in England.
Things didn’t start all too well for him but he did score his first goals for City in the Premier League against West Brom in November 2010 but was also sent off for violent conduct, typifying what Balotelli’s career was going to be, highs and lows.
In that season Balo was even awarded the Golden Boy Award and stated that only Lionel Messi was better than him from the list of past winners. He even was named the man of the match as City lifted the FA Cup by defeating Stoke City in the season.
The 2012-13 season was the real Mario Balotelli season as he picked up four red cards in the season leading to a multitude of bans but was incredible when on the pitch and played a huge role in the 6-1 hammering of Manchester United.
He also provided the key assist for Sergio Aguero as Manchester City won the Premier League with the last kick of the season but Roberto Mancini had had enough of Balo’s tantrums on and off the pitch and he was sold to AC Milan, the club he supported as a child.
Balo’s time at City was littered with issues ranging from being stopped with cash on the car for no reason to fireworks in a toilet to throwing darts on youngsters. The constant issues with the authorities was one reason why he was sold but he did have a lot of talent, which often was an excuse to keep him playing.
His time at Milan wasn’t all that great either and after just a couple of seasons, where he and Milan both underachieved, he joined Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers stated that this was the last chance for the Italian to do something big at the club but even that could not ignite the fire within Balotelli and he only scored four goals for the Reds in the entirety of the 2014-15 season.
Balo did tune down the craziness but that seemed to affect his personality. Things had been tough for Balo ever since he left Italy and it seems a return home could be the answer once again. Liverpool did loan Balo out to AC Milan last season but Mario only scored three goals all season and the deal to keep him in Milan could not be finalised.
Now he is set to leave Liverpool again and no one really knows what to expect from the maverick Italian, maybe the notching down of the madness has led him to lose his footballing ability. Whatever happens, Balotelli will remain an enigma for the good and the bad of what can happen to a wonderful talent in football.