On June 28, 2012, in Warsaw, the world watched Mario Balotelli destroy mighty Germany in the middle of the European Championship, with a powerful header and kick that sent the ball into the goal. Manshaft To Berlin. The likely successor was there
By Roberto Baggio, Del Piero, Totti or Inzaghi.
On October 1, 2023, more than ten years after Balotelli announced his existence to the world, it is strange that the news about this Italian is justified for good reasons. But Balotelli is different when he decides to be less than Balotelli – and this, although it is difficult for this foolish Italian, is always good news.
This Sunday, at Alana Demirspor-Alanyaspor Stadium (4-0), he scored two goals in his first appearance with his new club, the tenth of his career. Alongside Portuguese Nani, Balotelli was good, as he always decides to be.
After arguing a few hours ago that Taarabt is technically stronger than Neymar, some will say that Balotelli does not know what he is saying. But at least he still knows what he’s doing – sometimes.
He’s not that young man anymore
One day, Jose Mourinho said: “Do you trust him? Not at all. I can’t keep him at home for two days. I don’t trust Mario. Nobody does. He can score two goals against Arsenal, but he can also get a red card. You need To work and rest. But he is young…
She’s young? He was, once upon a time, a young striker whose talent was overshadowed by his childish, carefree personality.Golden boyToday, he’s a 33-year-old man who has never been called “Super Mario.”
Balotelli is the man who does not know how to wear a jacket, who does not know how to respond to provocation, who does not understand the concept of humility, who does not practice calm, who does not understand that fireworks are dangerous inside the house, and that playing with a gun in a square in Milan is not a good idea.
In footballing terms, Balotelli is the striker who in 70 Premier League matches has managed to provide just one assist for a goal – although the goal he provided, on 13 May 2012, gave Aguero and Manchester City, in the 94th minute, one goal. One of the most unforgettable moments of legends in football history. It was a tournament-worthy assist.
But this, good as it was, was an exception to the rule that governs Balotelli: the one that first there’s Mario, then there’s Baruah, then there’s Balotelli and then maybe there’s room for someone else to be relevant – with luck. .
Balotelli has always been selfish, and this, whether in a team environment or in team football, has never allowed him to be what he seemed guaranteed to be.
She still knows what she’s doing
After his departure from Inter, he spent two seasons in Manchester, two seasons of relative promotion at Milan, and two disastrous years: at Liverpool, first, and again at Milan, after that.
Later, he was in the Mediterranean city of Nice, a city also known for its carnival. There he also tried to turn the “carnival” that was his career into a hit track. He succeeded, but just barely.
In Marseille, Brescia, Monza and Sion he was weak again. The only exception to this list of footballing mediocrity, despite always scoring goals, is when Balotelli settles in Adana, in southern Turkey.
He has scored 19 goals in 33 games in 2021/22, and after being at Sion, he returns to Adana. One match and two goals.
And in Adana, as in Milan and Nice, he seems to know how to be happy. But even goals will not save Balotelli from the fate of wasted talent. For Adana, the goals remain. In this field, the Italian striker still knows what he is doing.