I just feel sorry for him.

 

I don't, he brings it on himself.

It’s his own fault.

He doesn’t even look like he can be bothered. Henderson was bursting a gut at 88 minutes to close down the ball while Mario who was a second half sub just seemed to walk about looking sorry for himself.

I have no idea why Brenda keeps bringing him on, there is zero passion or effort to do anything positive.

He looks like the token guy at 5 asides who has bags of ability but just does the bare minimum in terms of running and tackling while trying wild efforts from range.

I can't see anyone going in for him this time around.

Wasted talent, so sad since he looked like a world beater

 

I was always very skeptical of him being a serious player until that Euro 2012 semi-final in which Italy shocked Germany with Balotelli putting in an absolutely titanic performance - after that I was unsure of how his career would turn out. I know he's still only 24 so it's not too late for him to achieve something brilliant, but he doesn't seem like he has anything close to the mentality required to consistently win trophies.

 

While he was never anything close to my first choice as Torres' replacement, the paucity of available strikers meant that I hadn't entirely written off the idea of Balotelli at Chelsea as a potentially good one, thinking that if he was going to succeed anywhere it would be under Mourinho. Thankfully I didn't embarrass myself in the thread though, it seems like I simply repeated my summer mantra of singing the praises of Mario Mandzukic.

 

If we were to sign him (and I pray that we don't) I don't think he would be the unmitigated disaster that he has been at Liverpool (that has been extremely enjoyable to witness), but all the same I don't like having that kind of disruptive, egotistical presence in the dressing room at all. If he is going to succeed anywhere it is going to be as the 'big fish', and he would never be a first choice here ahead of Costa, he just isn't as good and doesn't put in even a hundredth of the effort that Costa does.

 

Thankfully Mourinho has in the past referred to him as "unmanageable", and also said this:

 

“The most problematic players were funny. Mario was good fun. I could write a book of 200 pages of my two years in Inter with Mario, but the book would not be a drama, it would be a comedy.

I remember one time went to play Kazan in the Champions League. In that match I had all my strikers injured. No Milito, no Eto’o, I was really in trouble and Mario was the only one.

Mario got a yellow card in the 42nd minute, so when I go to the dressing room at half-time I spend about 14 minutes of the 15 available speaking only to Mario.

I said to him, ‘Mario, I cannot change you, I have no strikers on the bench, so don’t touch anybody and play only with the ball. If we lose the ball no reaction. If someone provokes you, no reaction, if the referee makes a mistake, no reaction.' The 46th minute, red card."

As I said before, one day Mario will wake up and realise two things:-

 

 o He should have listened to those who know and ignored all the hangers on.

 

 o That it's too late.

He's finished as a footballer. Shot himself in the foot at Manchester City, at AC Milan, and now at Liverpool. I honestly cannot see anyone going in for him at all. Mourinho was right when he said that Mario was "unmanageable". 

 

He'll need to get a new career as a fitness instructor or something. 

I don't, he brings it on himself.

I know, but he had an awful start in life and I know that's no excuse, but I do worry. It's like watching and waiting for a Gascoigne like break down. Mario's behaviour is bizarre and worrying and it's always a shame when a young person with a chance to get on top of life implodes. I hope I'm wrong I really do.

Hands up who wanted him.

Two years ago, I told a friend that I'd take Suarez or Balotelli with all their problems. I was dead wrong about one lol

I would have him in a heartbeat personally.

I think he is a fantastic talent and is possibly one is of the few top quality strikers in Europe who there could be a realistic chance of signing given Milan's woeful form.

Not one of your finest moments mate it has to be said. 

the greatest trick Balotelli ever pulled was convincing the world he's talented

He's extremely talented but he's mentally weak. Character accounts for so much when it comes to success and he has a weak character.

It's like having the fastest car on the track but an 8 year old driving.

Not one of your finest moments mate it has to be said.

Win some, you lose some.

Personally I think Liverpool was a bad move for him.

Being Suarez's replacement was a tall order.

I think Balotelli needs a father figure type manager to get him playing well.

Mancini played that role well for the most part and Balotelli's record for City was decent.

I thought Mourinho could be the manager Balotelli needed to take him to that next level. Playing for Liverpool and Rodgers he just looks disinterested, bored almost. I just wonder if the fun of playing has gone for him, Milan was his boyhood club and he was basically forced out and the Italian fans were less than kind to him after the World Cup.

But yes, I got it wrong.

Balotelli obviously had talent, I wanted him here over Costa because I honestly believed he will become a world class striker one day, but now after what I've seen at Liverpool he has blew that.

 

So I'm very glad we didn't sign him.

 

If you watched him play at Inter and City you would see how talented he was, at 18/19/20 scoring goals like he did in the top leagues that type of potential you would think he would be ballon d'or material one day but his attitude obviously lets him down massively. I liked some of his attitude, some of it is a bonus, he doesn't let the pressure get to him, but he doesn't care either and that's what will let him down massively, he doesn't work hard enough. He has so much talent and he just doesn't care, that's what separates him from the likes of Zlatan and Ronaldo who are arrogant.

Zlatan is a twat!!! He's the most arrogant footballer of all time . And I don't think he's that good at all.

I've never got the fuss over Ballotelli, never rated him.

Had many a discussion with friends over his status in world football, and the standard response is...'he has flashes of brilliance'.

That's just it for me, every average Joe can have flashes of brilliance.

Great players shine. They don't flash.

Zlatan is a twat!!! He's the most arrogant footballer of all time . And I don't think he's that good at all.

 

He is overrated but that's not my point, he is still a very good player, and Balotelli wont even reach that, I just highlighted Zlatan and Ronaldo because they were both known for being very arrogant at Balotelli's age, difference was they actually put the work in, Zlatan idolised Brazilian ronaldo and wanted to follow in his foot steps and Cristiano is known for always staying back for more training.

Jose can fix him.

Jose can fix him.

No thank you.

Jose can fix him.

Proof of how shrewd and aware Jose is, no one can fix anyone, ultimately the individual must look to themselves and I think Mario is not in that place yet. I wish someone could fix him though.

He's 24. I don't think Jose could fix him anyway. He won't change, it's part of his personality.

I've never got the fuss over Ballotelli, never rated him.

Had many a discussion with friends over his status in world football, and the standard response is...'he has flashes of brilliance'.

That's just it for me, every average Joe can have flashes of brilliance.

Great players shine. They don't flash.

 

Not sure how you could have never rated him. He had everything as a young striker- Strength, technique, and a decent turn of pace. He was a much brighter talent than Lukaku at similar ages. He still has something but he will probably settle in a weak league.

Not sure how you could have never rated him. He had everything as a young striker- Strength, technique, and a decent turn of pace. He was a much brighter talent than Lukaku at similar ages. He still has something but he will probably settle in a weak league.

You say as a young striker in the past tense, you do realise he is still only 24, not even close to his prime yet and he is more or less washed up.

Zero work rate, clown antics and being a flat track bully are the things I think of first when people mention his name.

You can get away with being lazy if you are an outstanding talent.

He isn't and never has been.

You say as a young striker in the past tense, you do realise he is still only 24, not even close to his prime yet and he is more or less washed up.

Zero work rate, clown antics and being a flat track bully are the things I think of first when people mention his name.

You can get away with being lazy if you are an outstanding talent.

He isn't and never has been.

He has never been an outstanding talent? Ok....

At Inter he was regarded by many as THE finest striker prospect in world football. What he has become is irrelevant to my argument. To have *never* rated Balotelli is a bit strange.

Don't want that loose cannon anywhere near SB, talent yes, but vastly vastly under achieves...

I was one who wanted him instead of Costa, as I was worried about Costa bein suspended a lot of the time and he would be coming to a new league, but happy to be proven wrong in this case.

I was one who wanted him instead of Costa, as I was worried about Costa bein suspended a lot of the time and he would be coming to a new league, but happy to be proven wrong in this case.

I wanted him plus Costa.

I genuinely thought he would sort his behaviour out and knuckle down as this was one of his last chances to prove himself, turns out it was a blessing we didn't go near him. Just seems a lazy, lazy sod.

He looks like football is just a hobby and if he isn't the centre of attention then he chucks it.

I was one who wanted him instead of Costa, as I was worried about Costa bein suspended a lot of the time and he would be coming to a new league, but happy to be proven wrong in this case.

 

I didn't want either of them at them time, i am glad to be proven wrong about Diego Costa though. He has a temper on him, but he isn't a Suarez type player like i thought he would turn out to be.

Edited March 23, 201511 yr by Scott Harris