Modern Football Mavericks: Mario Balotelli
What is a Maverick?
A Maverick is an unorthodox or independent-minded person. In regards to Football, these individuals has gone against the rules set by clubs, organisations (e.g. F.A) and even those that fans expect any other player to follow. Some are loved and some are hated, and in this mini-series of posts, I will be looking at how they have become a Maverick and what this means for them on and off the pitch.
Name: Mario Burwuah Balotelli
D.O.B: 12th August 1990
Club: AC Milan (on loan)
Career Information: Lumezzane (2006-2007), Inter Milan (2007-2010), Manchester City (2010- 2013), AC Milan (2013-2014), Liverpool (2014- Present), AC Milan (on loan, 2015- Present).
Honours:
Club
Inter Milan
Serie A 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10
Coppa Italia 2009-10
Supercoppa Italiana 2008
Champions League 2009-10
Manchester City
Premier League 2011-12
FA Cup 2010-11
Club
Inter Milan
Serie A 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10
Coppa Italia 2009-10
Supercoppa Italiana 2008
Champions League 2009-10
Manchester City
Premier League 2011-12
FA Cup 2010-11
FA Community Shield 2012
Country (Italy)
UEFA European Football Championship Runner-Up 2012
FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place 2013
Individual
Coppa Italia Top Goalscorer 2007-08
Golden Boy Award 2010
FA Cup Final Man of the Match 2011
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 2012
UEFA European Championship Joint Top- Goalscorer 2012
Serie A Team of the Year 2012-13
Country (Italy)
UEFA European Football Championship Runner-Up 2012
FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place 2013
Individual
Coppa Italia Top Goalscorer 2007-08
Golden Boy Award 2010
FA Cup Final Man of the Match 2011
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 2012
UEFA European Championship Joint Top- Goalscorer 2012
Serie A Team of the Year 2012-13
Why Always Him?
Mario Ballotelli. The Bad-boy of Mavericks. A Premier League fans favourite for the off-field antics that made headlines at both ends of the newspapers. Mario has had quite an up and down career so far and at the age of 25 hasn't got that many moves left. On loan from Liverpool at AC Milan, Mario looks like he may move away from Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp due to the selection order of strikers at Anfield. Anyway, here is the Mario Ballotelli story so far containing fireworks, bust-ups and some classic Mario attitude.
Ballotelli was born to Ghanaian parents but was fostered when he was three by an Italian couple. Mario received Italian citizenship on his 18th Birthday. He said after the ceremony "I am Italian, I feel Italian. I will forever play for the Italian national team." After a trail at Barcelona failed, Mario signed for Inter Milan. In November 2008, Mario became the youngest player to score in the Champions League (at 18 years and 85 days). Mourinho then butted heads with Mario over his effort with training. Along with racist chanting from opposition Serie A fans, Mario made a bone-headed decision to wear an AC Milan shirt. Ballotelli later said on Inter's website "I am sorry for the situation that has been created recently. I am the first person who has suffered because I adore football and I want to play, and now I am waiting in silence so I can return to being useful to my team. I want to put the past behind me, look to the future and concentrate on the upcoming commitments and make myself ready." Mario's behaviour on the pitch brought disapproval from his teammates, with Zanetti publicly saying "Mario needs to focus on doing what he can do on the pitch, he can't allow himself to behave like this."
On 12th August 2010, Mario signed for Manchester City for €21.8 million. In December 2010 Balotelli won the Golden Boy Award, saying that only one of the past winners was slightly better than he was – Lionel Messi. I know, its an easy comparison. He also claimed not to know of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, the player he narrowly beat to the award. To be fair, Wilshere is made of glass and probably won't retain his place in the Arsenal bench anytime soon. After the FA Cup final, Mario said shit in an interview and then causally said "Can I say that?." No Mario. You can't. Anyway, Mario was charged for violent conduct for the kick against Scott Parker and was suspended for four matches, three for violent conduct and one for his second sending off and was also banned for three games (one for the two yellow cards and two for the previous two red cards in the same season). Mario then providing the assist to the most historic goal in Premier League history as Manchester City won the Premier League for the first time. In December, Ballotelli tried to get out of being fined two weeks wages by going to a hearing but after one day dropped his claim and accepted the fine. Roberto Mancini, who managed Mario at Inter and Manchester City, has said "The problem is because of his age, he can make some mistakes. He's Mario. He's crazy but I love him because he's a good guy."
On 29th January 2013, AC Milan announced that they had signed Mario Ballotelli for €20 million on a four-and-a-half deal. Mancini said that Mario could restore his reputation and become one of the best forwards in the World by moving back to Serie A. Milan's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, said "Balotelli in Rossoneri is a dream that has been realized. It is a transfer that everyone wanted: club, president and fans." On 22nd September 2013, Mario missed a penalty in a competitive match for the first time in 22 matches. Pepe Reina saved the penalty as Milan lost 2-1 to Napoli. On 14th August 2014, Ballotelli moved to Liverpool for £16 million to fill the void of Luis Suarez. Mario was never going to fulfil that gap and had a very empty time at Anfield before being loaned to AC Milan for the rest of the season.
Now this where the real Maverick stuff happens that has created Mario's cult following online and across the stands. During his time at Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho said he was 'unmanageable' and it really seems like this is true and therefore it means that he is one of a kind due to his temper and child-like mentality. However, Mario can be serious when he wants to be and in 2010, he was photographed in the company of two noted Mafia mobsters (as you do). When Mario was at Manchester City, he drove around Manchester with £5,000 and said "Because I am rich" when asked why he was doing this by a police officer. He also threw darts at a youth player, as you do. He also had a hilarious incident in involving him needing assistance with a bib.
Perhaps the most famous Balotelli moment of all-time was when he pulled off his top after scoring in a 6-1 win over city rivals Manchester United and revealed the words 'Why Always Me?'. This was after Ballotelli set off fireworks in his bathroom, as you do. On 1 December 2014, Balotelli was accused of racism and antisemitism for posting an image on Instagram of the video game character Mario. Now to most people on social media, this image is very common to prove various things about yourself to people you don't really like and Mario was usually criticised for this. In response to criticisms, he wrote: "My Mom is Jewish so all of u shut up please". In 2012, Balotelli featured in GQ where he and British musician Tinie Tempah were named as the best and second-best dressed men in the world respectively, which is fair considering how rich they both are. Balotelli is a fan of mixed martial arts, as he has stated in the past that he would love to compete in the sport professionally if he were not a footballer. Balotelli owns several cars, including a Range Rover Evoque, Ferrari 458 Spider, Bentley Continental GT, Maserati GT, and Audi R8 V10.
Mario Balotelli is a good Footballer, not amazing, but he is simply the craziest Modern Football Maverick. From bust-ups to smoking on a train in Italy to fireworks, there is never a dull moment on and off the pitch with Mario and I hope he returns to the Premier League on a consistent basis, just not for Liverpool.
Mario Ballotelli. The Bad-boy of Mavericks. A Premier League fans favourite for the off-field antics that made headlines at both ends of the newspapers. Mario has had quite an up and down career so far and at the age of 25 hasn't got that many moves left. On loan from Liverpool at AC Milan, Mario looks like he may move away from Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp due to the selection order of strikers at Anfield. Anyway, here is the Mario Ballotelli story so far containing fireworks, bust-ups and some classic Mario attitude.
Ballotelli was born to Ghanaian parents but was fostered when he was three by an Italian couple. Mario received Italian citizenship on his 18th Birthday. He said after the ceremony "I am Italian, I feel Italian. I will forever play for the Italian national team." After a trail at Barcelona failed, Mario signed for Inter Milan. In November 2008, Mario became the youngest player to score in the Champions League (at 18 years and 85 days). Mourinho then butted heads with Mario over his effort with training. Along with racist chanting from opposition Serie A fans, Mario made a bone-headed decision to wear an AC Milan shirt. Ballotelli later said on Inter's website "I am sorry for the situation that has been created recently. I am the first person who has suffered because I adore football and I want to play, and now I am waiting in silence so I can return to being useful to my team. I want to put the past behind me, look to the future and concentrate on the upcoming commitments and make myself ready." Mario's behaviour on the pitch brought disapproval from his teammates, with Zanetti publicly saying "Mario needs to focus on doing what he can do on the pitch, he can't allow himself to behave like this."
On 12th August 2010, Mario signed for Manchester City for €21.8 million. In December 2010 Balotelli won the Golden Boy Award, saying that only one of the past winners was slightly better than he was – Lionel Messi. I know, its an easy comparison. He also claimed not to know of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, the player he narrowly beat to the award. To be fair, Wilshere is made of glass and probably won't retain his place in the Arsenal bench anytime soon. After the FA Cup final, Mario said shit in an interview and then causally said "Can I say that?." No Mario. You can't. Anyway, Mario was charged for violent conduct for the kick against Scott Parker and was suspended for four matches, three for violent conduct and one for his second sending off and was also banned for three games (one for the two yellow cards and two for the previous two red cards in the same season). Mario then providing the assist to the most historic goal in Premier League history as Manchester City won the Premier League for the first time. In December, Ballotelli tried to get out of being fined two weeks wages by going to a hearing but after one day dropped his claim and accepted the fine. Roberto Mancini, who managed Mario at Inter and Manchester City, has said "The problem is because of his age, he can make some mistakes. He's Mario. He's crazy but I love him because he's a good guy."
On 29th January 2013, AC Milan announced that they had signed Mario Ballotelli for €20 million on a four-and-a-half deal. Mancini said that Mario could restore his reputation and become one of the best forwards in the World by moving back to Serie A. Milan's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, said "Balotelli in Rossoneri is a dream that has been realized. It is a transfer that everyone wanted: club, president and fans." On 22nd September 2013, Mario missed a penalty in a competitive match for the first time in 22 matches. Pepe Reina saved the penalty as Milan lost 2-1 to Napoli. On 14th August 2014, Ballotelli moved to Liverpool for £16 million to fill the void of Luis Suarez. Mario was never going to fulfil that gap and had a very empty time at Anfield before being loaned to AC Milan for the rest of the season.
Now this where the real Maverick stuff happens that has created Mario's cult following online and across the stands. During his time at Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho said he was 'unmanageable' and it really seems like this is true and therefore it means that he is one of a kind due to his temper and child-like mentality. However, Mario can be serious when he wants to be and in 2010, he was photographed in the company of two noted Mafia mobsters (as you do). When Mario was at Manchester City, he drove around Manchester with £5,000 and said "Because I am rich" when asked why he was doing this by a police officer. He also threw darts at a youth player, as you do. He also had a hilarious incident in involving him needing assistance with a bib.
Perhaps the most famous Balotelli moment of all-time was when he pulled off his top after scoring in a 6-1 win over city rivals Manchester United and revealed the words 'Why Always Me?'. This was after Ballotelli set off fireworks in his bathroom, as you do. On 1 December 2014, Balotelli was accused of racism and antisemitism for posting an image on Instagram of the video game character Mario. Now to most people on social media, this image is very common to prove various things about yourself to people you don't really like and Mario was usually criticised for this. In response to criticisms, he wrote: "My Mom is Jewish so all of u shut up please". In 2012, Balotelli featured in GQ where he and British musician Tinie Tempah were named as the best and second-best dressed men in the world respectively, which is fair considering how rich they both are. Balotelli is a fan of mixed martial arts, as he has stated in the past that he would love to compete in the sport professionally if he were not a footballer. Balotelli owns several cars, including a Range Rover Evoque, Ferrari 458 Spider, Bentley Continental GT, Maserati GT, and Audi R8 V10.
Mario Balotelli is a good Footballer, not amazing, but he is simply the craziest Modern Football Maverick. From bust-ups to smoking on a train in Italy to fireworks, there is never a dull moment on and off the pitch with Mario and I hope he returns to the Premier League on a consistent basis, just not for Liverpool.
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