Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is again in the headlines after City boss Roberto Mancini criticised his performance in Saturday’s 3-3 home draw with Sunderland, despite the Italian striker scoring a brace against the Black Cats.
Strikers
Mancini told Sky Sports: “ He didn’t play well. In a game like this, the striker should be the difference, but not in the last two minutes, three minutes – before.
“A player like Mario, like (Edin) Dzeko, should score two or three goals in a game like this. In this moment we need our strikers to do different.”
Trust
This is the second comment Mancini has made about the mercurial striker in a week after he stated he can’t trust Balotelli in his press conference on Friday.
Balotelli had an on-field row with teammate Alexander Kolarov during the Sunderland match and it’s just the latest incident in a long line of incidents. The striker showed petulance because he wasn’t allowed to take a free-kick.
Sulk
Mario Balotelli has scored goals this season in the English top flight but at times he has sulked his way through games, and looked like he isn’t interested at other times.
Balotelli is a difficult person to handle but Mancini looked like he had managed to subdue his antics slightly earlier in the season. However it seems that Balotelli hasn’t settled down at all.
Crazy
Mario Balotelli is mad as a box of frogs. Some of his antics both on and off the pitch have made the striker one of the most controversial players in the game. He may be a decent player but his mental state has to be questioned.
His crazy antics are starting to test Mancini’s patience and it looks like his compatriot has pushed him far too far.
Needed
Manchester City is in a bad position at the moment due to the fact that Roberto Mancini needs Mario Balotelli. For all the money City have they need Balotelli at the moment due to the circumstances surrounding their other strikers.
Mancini has moaned about injuries but it’s worrying for City that Sergio Aguero is currently struggling with injury, Carlos Tevez is lacking match fitness after his long lay-off and Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko seems to be struggling to hold down a regular starting place.
Balotelli has scored 13 Premier League goals this season and those have been important for City in the title race. Mancini is now faced with a difficult dilemma. Does he drop the striker because of his behaviour or does continue to play the 21 year-old?
It will be a difficult decision for Mancini but his handling of Balotelli could be key to whether City claim the title or not.
Exit
Mancini may need Balotelli at the moment but I think that Mancini has had enough of his behaviour. The likely outcome of Balotelli’s behaviour is his exit from the Etihad Stadium. City are likely to spend more money this summer and some that money is likely to go on a replacement for Balotelli.
It’s hard to see where Balotelli’s future lies. A move back to Italy looks like the most likely outcome for the talented but temperamental striker. The problem is which club in Italy could afford to sign Balotelli?
Most clubs in Italy wouldn’t have the sort of financial clot to bring the striker back top his homeland. This could leave Balotelli in limbo and that wouldn’t be a good situation for anybody involved.
Shame
Mario Balotelli is a talented player who can win or lose his team games. He could play a part in City winning the Premier League title, but that’s looking doubtful at the moment. The striker is young and talented.
However his talent is often overshadowed by his ridiculous antics both on and off the pitch. He may be box office but at the moment he is more trouble than he is worth.
I have a feeling that Mario Balotelli will be plying his trade elsewhere next season and Manchester City may well be a happier place for it.
Will Mario Balotelli leave Manchester City this summer?
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