Mario Balotelli

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda has urged compatriot Mario Balotelli to complete his proposed switch from Inter Milan to Manchester City.

Macheda, 18, left his homeland to join United three years ago, announcing himself to Red Devils' fans with a dramatic injury-time winner against Aston Villa on his Premier League debut in 2008.

Rivals Manchester City are looking to unearth an Italian gem of their own by luring Inter frontman Balotelli to Eastlands before the new season.

And Macheda, who spent time in the Lazio youth system, believes that young players in England get more opportunities than their Italian counterparts.

"He's coming to play in England because in the Premier League he will be a protagonist," said Macheda from the Italy U21 base in Tuscany.

"I'm proud to be playing in a championship that's different to ours (Italian) where a young player has the chance of playing.

"For a while there was a possibility that I would be sold and then Manchester (United) confirmed me and I'm delighted with that choice.

"In England someone like Balotelli would feel good and would play. I'm delighted he's been picked by (Italy senior coach Cesare) Prandelli (to play Ivory Coast in Wednesday's friendly), whether he deserves it or not only the future will tell."

While United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has sent two other strikers out on loan this season - Mame Biram Diouf and Danny Wellbeck - he chose to keep Macheda with the first team squad.
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Sky Sports | Football News | Premier League | Manchester United | Macheda urges Balotelli deal
 
I honestly think he would be a good signing for any stable club..
 
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Balotelli hints at new Italy but Africans score on style

Italy 0 Ivory Coast 1
By Chris McGrath at Upton Park

Wednesday, 11 August 2010

Italy's Antonio Cassano (left) keeps his eye on the ball against Yaya Touré, of Ivory Coast, last night

His compatriots came here in search of temporary refuge, a sanctuary from the wrath of a nation. For Mario Balotelli, however, this may prove the beginning of a more lasting asylum.

That, admittedly, is a solution this fractious, formidable young talent has often been recommended in its least complimentary sense. The idea is that his debut for Italy here last night will prove only the first of many appearances on Premier League grounds this season. If that is so, then Roberto Mancini must somehow contrive a filial kinship amid the febrile competition for places at Manchester City – where those already signed this summer include Yaya Touré, who lined up against him as the captain of Ivory Coast.

And it was another potential team-mate, Kolo Touré, who effectively ended his evening with the only goal after 55 minutes. Within five minutes Balotelli had been replaced, having shown only glimpses of what makes Mancini insist he is worth all the hassle – such wit, harnessed to such brawn, like some flighty, unbroken young colt. He did go close with a free-kick in the opening minutes, but overall proved excusably short of fitness.

Balotelli had been introduced to the British climate by an evening of drizzle in east London, and if the District Line conveyed an unusual match-day percentage of designer jeans and spectacles towards the Boleyn Ground, and just 11,176 souls, he will not have been deceived that this was just some gaudy, pre-season exhibition.

Never mind Manchester City. First and foremost, Balotelli arrived as the symbol of a new beginning for the Azzurri, whose ignominy in South Africa – as holders, they finished bottom of their group – surpassed that of England.

And by starting not just with Balotelli, but with Antonio Cassano and Amauri, Cesare Prandelli made an overt break from the disgraced squad of Marcello Lippi. The Italians, he implied, have relied too long on bolting their own door. It was time to bring along a set of keys as well. The new regime has even seduced Roberto Baggio, who has been hunting boar in Argentina since retiring in 2004, as technical director.

That is what last night was supposed to be about, but this proved a staccato performance. Marco Motta hit the post just after the interval, but half-a-dozen Italian substitutions interrupted some decorative intentions and instead it was one of Africa's most flamboyant teams that proved better able to shed their own World Cup disappointment.

But Prandelli had made his biggest statement before the kick-off. At Internazionale, Balotelli was too literally outrageous a talent even for Jose Mourinho to bring to heel. And Cassano was likewise ostracised as too delinquent by Lippi. Amauri, meanwhile, represents another kind of outsider, naturalised only in the spring after his long exile from Brazil. By combining Amauri with Balotelli, Prandelli has sought to emulate the new Germans.

By the end, Prandelli had replaced all three. Cassano had made the most auspicuous contribution – but you long to see more of Fabio Quagliarella, author of the tournament's most gorgeous goal just moments before his tears provided the abiding image of Italy's World Cup exit.

He is effectively in direct competition with Balotelli, for whom Prandelli calls this the beginning of a long journey. In exhorting his men that "we must take risks, overcome our fears", he has been using the same sort of formula as his compatriot at Wembley tonight. And if deeds did not yet match his words last night, the idea is example enough.

The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper
 
According to a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester City and Inter are just €2 million away from completing the transfer of Italy international Mario Balotelli.

The promising attacker is continually being linked with a move to the Citizens, but the deal has yet to be completed, despite a number of recent reports that the deal was all but done.

The latest reports from Italy now claim that the two clubs are close to agreeing terms though. Inter were initially holding out for a €30m transfer fee, while the Premier League side were not willing to pay more than €24m for the 20-year-old.

Inter have now apparently lowered their demands though and are ready to say farewell to Balotelli for a fee of €28m. City are not yet ready to meet the Nerazzurri's demands, but they're willing to increase their offer to €26m.

Balotelli has apparently already agreed personal terms with the Citizens and is all set to sign a five-year deal worth €3.5 per year.
 
FranklyVulgar said:
Prandelli is the man, although sticking with Pepe is a strange one but i'm beginning to think i might enjoy watching Italy again, Cassano and Balotelli in the same team? i'd never have imagined!
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Pepe is yet to show his real form for Italy. Under Prandelli he will have chance. I'm glad Cassano is back and upper Mario is in.
 
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's is the latest voice to join a chorus of negative noise against Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, blasting: "He needs to learn manners and respect".

Balotelli's angry outburst comes less than a week after Franz Beckenbauer described the 'Special One' as being "rude".

It's no secret that Balotelli and Mourinho endured a tense relationship during their time at Inter. The young striker was often excluded from the squad, and on one occasion threatened to walk out on the club altogether.

And, when questioned as to what he thought of Mourinho by La Gazzetta dello Sport's 'extra time' publication, Balotelli reacted angrily.

"Mourinho is the best coach in the world, but as a man he still needs to learn manners and respect," blasted the striker.
:lol:
 
He's set an exit date for City. Claims he'll be at AC Milan in a couple of years time. Is he the world's most annoying man?
 
"Me with Ibra and Cassano at Milan? It'll happen soon. For this year, and another, I will stay at City where I'm fine."

What a total cnut! :lol:
 
Manchester City's Mario Balotelli has furthered his outspoken reputation by claiming Wayne Rooney is not the best player in Manchester.

Balotelli, who is likely to come head to head with Rooney in next month's Manchester Derby, admitted he admires United's talisman but couldn't stop himself taking a sly dig at the England international.

He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "He [Rooney] is a very good player but not the best in Manchester."

The 20 year-old, seemingly not content with riling up Rooney, then took an opportunity speak about Manchester United's fans, claiming they want the young striker to sign for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

He said: "Do United fans insult me? No, they stop me in the street and say: 'Mario, come to us'.

"But I dream of beating them because I know how much the City fans care, they are wonderful with me. When they sang my name after the hat-trick, I had chills."

The Italian also claimed Manchester City hold the world's most potent attack following the signing of Edin Dzeko.

He said: "Our attack of Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko is the best in the world - better even than Barcelona and Real Madrid. We are the strongest and we can win things now - we just lack conviction."

Balotelli also talked up a number of his other Manchester City team-mates before making a withering attack on the British press for their part in a scandal regarding his ex-girlfriend and Big Brother winner, Sophie Reade.

He said: “Adam Johnson has great technique and Emmanuel Adebayor is the funniest. Patrick Vieira and Aleksandr Kolarov really helped me out when I first arrived.

“However, England is far ahead of the rest in terms of stadia and far behind in terms of its media. The newspapers are just trash.

“All I can say about Sophie is that I saw her once and she started bombarding me with messages, while one of her friends was far more interesting to me.”

The former Inter Milan forward also turned his attentions to his former coach at the San Siro, Jose Mourinho, delivering a customary attack on the Real Madrid boss, with whom he endured a volatile relationship.

"Mourinho is the best coach in the world, but as a man he still needs to learn manners and respect," said Balotelli.

The outspoken youngster did however offer praise for his former Inter teammate Wesley Sneijder, stating that the Dutch midfielder deserved to be awarded the Ballon d’Or and not Lionel Messi.

He said: “I don’t believe Leo Messi deserved the Ballon d’Or, as it should’ve gone to Wesley Sneijder.”
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goal.com
 
But I thought there weren't any united fans in Manchester?
 
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli won't be a rare survivor of the cut and thrust of Premier League life as he ponders a future Milan move to link up with idols Antonio Cassano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Balotelli admits he wants to join the Rossoneri and showed detailed concern with planning and provisioning his future.

And his big ambition is to ally forces with Cassano and Ibrahimovic - his former Inter team-mate.

"Do I envy Cassano for going to Milan? A little," Balotelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport's 'extra time' insert.

"[Milan owner] Silvio Berlusconi said that Cassano is the best Italian talent - he's wrong or doesn't know Balotelli.

"Me with Ibra and Cassano at Milan? It'll happen soon. For this year, and another, I will stay at City where I'm fine."
 
It's one thing being confident because you are good but it's another being silly and overestimating your ability. He isn't even that good, he wasn't very important for Inter, he is barely a first team player at City too and that could change.
 
Balotelli strikes me as a very needy, high-maintenance young man where extreme excess simply isn't enough and the need for praise and attention is required on a daily basis.

He fits the model of the modern footballer perfectly. Lots of money and drama in a very short space of time then whoosh......off to punditry of some form
 
Kinky Melinky said:
Balotelli strikes me as a very needy, high-maintenance young man where extreme excess simply isn't enough and the need for praise and attention is required on a daily basis.

He fits the model of the modern footballer perfectly. Lots of money and drama in a very short space of time then whoosh......off to punditry of some form
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I agree with the first paragraph. In fact, I'd say it's bang on.

As for the 2nd, he won't end up a pundit. He's a fecking badass, man. I could imagine this bloke going way 'off the rails'. You can see he's had a bad early life and he's got the anger running through him.
 
That bit about him walking 50 mins to training after been grounded only to be sent straight home by the coach made me chuckle...I bet his head nearly exploded lol
 
Yet another game goes by where I fail to see what's so special about the ridiculously over-hyped Mario Balotelli.
 
cw1984 said:
Yet another game goes by where I fail to see what's so special about the ridiculously over-hyped Mario Balotelli.
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I was in the same boat as you but I've seen him stand out a few times and he does look like a special player. There are plenty of times when a neutral might watch someone like Rooney play and question his talent too. Don't forget its his first season in a foreign country, having just come back from injury.
 
He looks a very very good player

But he also looks like a right tit with a disjointed attitude which will eventually cost him a career at the highest echelons of the game

Maybe if the right person gets hold of him he'll sort it out before its too late, but to be honest, I fancy he'd just tell that person to feck off anyway
 
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