Mario Balotelli

[Hawk]

In the meantime Mario spends five days in Barcelona for a trial. FC Barcelona's managers, people with great experience of talented youth players, were positively enthusiastic about this great young player. At Camp Nou, Mario scores eight goals and gains some unforgettable memories

http://www.mariobalotelli.it/en/biography.php

Eto'o played in mid-field? That's nuts...

at times a wing back.

[maniaFCB]

Eto playing back as a wingback was crucial for Inter's success, especially against us in the second leg. Having Maicon and Eto'o playing on the same side essentially allowed Eto'o to use his speed to chase players back into the black hole that is Maicon. I thought that it was a fairly astute tactic on the part of Mourniho.

[pabz]

Can you see Cristina tracking back?

[maniaFCB]

Can you see Cristina tracking back?

Tracking back is not in his contract.

[Hawk]

rooney more or less played as a wing-back two years ago.

its common practise when playing away to barcelona.

[IndoCulé]

Has agreed personal terms with Man City, currently awaiting on the negotiation on the transfer fee.

[LeeRomeno]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer ... -inter-to-

seems he is ManC player now

[pabz]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/13/2041917/official-mario-balotelli-completes-30-million-move-from-inter-to-

seems he is ManC player now

Fake City=Joke like the rest of the EPL.

[FCB-Rizla-TML]

yea i was reading that he will most likely make it to man city... i am glad he left inter... he gets treated so badly by the fans there... from what i have seen and read on the net they r very prejudice towards him... young talent like that doesnt need that s*** to screw with his confide nce and psyche

[IndoCulé]

It's official! He's moved to Man City.

[matfcb]

This guy is a joke. His agent is Raiola. He moved to City, he played in Inter and he is a fan of AC Milan Raiola is his agent so he will move to AC Milan in the future. He shouted Forza Milan after surgery earlier this morning

Balotelli when being asked by police after car crash week or so back why does he have 5k pounds in his pocket, he said "cause I'm rich"

http://www.gazzetta.it/gallery/Calcio/0 ... 33.shtml#1

[IndoCulé]

What a fool! He won't succeed at City.

[IndoCulé]

Balotelli: I want to be the best player in the world

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has set his sights on becoming the best player in the world, but accepts he will have to adapt to life in English football first.

Balotelli, 20, arrived at Eastlands for £24 million from Inter Milan in the summer, but was almost immediately sidelined by a knee injury and is only just back in the first-team picture.

He endured a disappointing first Premier League start in the defeat to Wolves on Saturday but could get another chance to impress in Thursday's Europa League clash with Lech Poznan if he shakes off a knock to the thigh in time.

And while Balotelli concedes the physical nature of English football is a change from his Serie A upbringing, he is eager to get more experience of it.

"It was difficult for me on Saturday because it was my first full game after all the injuries,'' he said. "Now I have to get as many matches under my belt as possible so I can understand the way the game is played here because it is very different from Italy.

"The tackles are harder and the referees don't seem to blow very often for fouls - in Italy, when someone makes contact with you, it's a foul, but that's not the case in England.

"It was my first game and it wasn't easy for me because I need to get to know my team-mates on the pitch and understand their movement and that comes with time.''

Balotelli would not be the first player from continental Europe to find the culture shock of the Premier League a little too much but he has no intention of letting that dampen his lofty ambitions.

"I want to be the best player in the world," he said. "It is good to have ambition. I've said in the past that I don't care what other people want or expect of me because I know what I want.

"I will always give everything because I want to become the best. That is my aim and I am determined to make it happen. I am here at City to play Champions League football, that's the competition I want to be in and that is what all the players here want to play in.''

Prior to the back-to-back defeats by Wolves and Arsenal, Europe's elite competition seemed to be beckoning City next season, but for now it is the lesser lights of the Europa League - and Poland in particular - that await.

"We are going to Poznan to win - but that is normal. We want to win every game we play,'' he said. "The quicker we guarantee a place in the round of 32 the better. It is important we progress to the next stage.''

If fit, Balotelli will almost certainly feature against Poznan. First-choice striker Carlos Tevez has yet to return from Argentina where he is currently undergoing treatment for a thigh problem, Roque Santa Cruz has not been registered for Europe and Emmanuel Adebayor has been noticeably short of form.

Article taken from: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 92&cc=4716

[IndoCulé]

Balotelli out of derby after accepting red card


Mario Balotelli will miss Wednesday's derby match against Manchester United after accepting his red card against West Brom, but Manchester City have appealed against a statutory three-match ban.

Balotelli, who had already been booked, was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after appearing to kick out at Youssouf Mulumbu during Sunday's 2-0 victory at the Hawthorns.

City claim the punishment is "excessive" for the severity of the foul and will have their appeal heard by the Independent Regulatory Commission on Tuesday.

The FA said in a statement: "The FA can confirm that Manchester City FC have today submitted a claim that, following the dismissal of Mario Balotelli for violent conduct, the standard punishment of an automatic three match ban is clearly excessive."

However, under FA rules a player dismissed for violent conduct or serious foul play must be banned for three matches. Only offences such as using insulting or abusive language - two matches - or denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity - one match - carry lesser punishments.

Balotelli scored twice against the Baggies before his 63rd minute dismissal and after the match City boss Roberto Mancini railed against referee Lee Probert's decision.

"I absolutely do not agree with the referee about this sending-off," said Mancini. "A red card for what?

"He played a fantastic game, he scored two goals, but the sending off was very strange. I want to know why it was a direct red card. For me this is not correct and the referee must explain."

Article taken from: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd&cc=4716

[IndoCulé]

Mancini surprised by Mario sale

Roberto Mancini feels Inter may have made a mistake in parting with Mario Balotelli as he tipped the Manchester City forward to become "the best Italian player there is".

Balotelli has had a mixed start to his career at Eastlands since his big-money summer move, with three goals, an injury and a red card to show for his four appearances for the club to date.

Mancini, though, is delighted with the signing and feels his former club may come to regret allowing him to move on.

"I wasn't at Inter for the last two years so I don't know what happened, but given that Mario could become the best Italian player there is then I probably wouldn't have let him go," Mancini told Max magazine. "I say probably.

"I love Balotelli. Sure, he's young and like all youngsters he makes mistakes, but I never get upset with him."

Mancini has faced criticism in England as City drew 0-0 with Manchester United and Birmingham in successive games, particularly due to the perceived over-reliance on defensive midfielders, but he remains confident that he can prove people wrong.

"They have a problem with me because I am Italian, because I have brought with me a different mentality," he said. "That'll stop in May when we start to win things."

Article taken from: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... rs&cc=4716