† Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:23, 28 June 2012 (UTC) Mario Barwuah Balotelli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmaˑɾjo baloˈtɛlːli]; born 12 August 1990) is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City and the Italy national team.[4][5] He started his professional football career at Lumezzane and played for the first team twice before having an unsuccessful trial at FC Barcelona,[6] and subsequently joining Internazionale in 2007. Inter manager Roberto Mancini brought Balotelli into the first team, but when Mancini left, Balotelli's disciplinary record fell away. He had a strained relationship with new head coach José Mourinho and was suspended from Inter's first team in January 2009 after a number of disciplinary problems. His problems deepened in March 2010 when he came under heavy criticism by Inter fans after he appeared on the Italian TV show Striscia la notizia, wearin! g an A.C. Milan jersey . This damaged the prospect of him having a long career at Inter, but he did make several appearances after that. With doubts over his career at Inter, former coach Roberto Mancini had since moved to Manchester City and decided to give Balotelli a fresh chance at a new club. He joined Manchester City in August 2010, where his performances and off-field activities have continued to be enigmatic and unpredictable. Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent, earned his first cap for the Italian national team on 10 August 2010 in a friendly match against the Côte d'Ivoire, becoming one of the first black players to play for the Italian national football team. Contents 1 Early life 2 Club career 2.1 Lumezzane 2.2 Internazionale 2.3 Manchester City 2.3.1 2010–11 2.3.2 2011–12 3 International career 4 Style of play 5 Personality and reputation 6 International goals 7 Career statistics 8 Honours 8.1 Club 8.2 Individual 9 References 10 External lin! ks Early life Mario Balotelli was born in Palermo, Sicily, to ! Ghanaian immigrants Thomas and Rose Barwuah. The family moved to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, shortly after he was born.[7] As an infant, he had life-threatening complications with his intestines which led to a series of operations, although his condition had improved by 1992. Mario's health problems and the family's cramped living conditions meant the Barwuahs decided to ask for the help of social services who recommended that he be fostered.[7] In 1993, the Barwuah family agreed to entrust the three-year-old boy to Francesco and Silvia Balotelli, his new foster family from Concesio, Brescia,[7] with the legal move formalized by the Court of Brescia.[8] When Mario Balotelli became famous, his biological parents asked for his return. He later accused them of "glory hunting", stating that they only wanted him back because of the prominence he had gained.[9] According to Law 91 of 5 February 1992,[10] Balotelli had to wait until his 18th birthday to req! uest Italian citizenship, as the Balotellis had not adopted him. Balotelli officially gained citizenship in Concesio on 13 August 2008.[11] Mario has three biological siblings: Abigail, Enoch and Angel Barwuah.[12] Enoch Barwuah, two years his junior, had a trial at English Premier League side Stoke City in December 2011.[13] Club career Lumezzane Balotelli began his career with Lumezzane. At the age of 15 he was promoted to the first team, making his first team debut in a Serie C1 league match against Padova.[14] Internazionale Having had an unsuccessful trial with Barcelona at the age of 15,[15] Balotelli was signed by Inter Milan in 2006 on loan with a pre-set price of €150,000 to co-own the player.[16] In June 2007 Inter excised the option and purchased another half for additional €190,000.[16] He made his first team and Serie A debut on 16 December 2007, replacing David Suazo in a 2–0 win against Cagliari.[17] Three days later he was featured in the starting line! up in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina, scoring two goals in a 4–! 1 win.[18] Balotelli gained national attention after he scored two goals against Juventus in the return leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, being instrumental in a 3–2 away win for Inter.[19] His first Serie A goal then came in April 2008 in a 2–0 away win against Atalanta.[20] Inter went on to win the 2007–08 Serie A.[21] Balotelli was a substitute in the 2008 Supercoppa Italiana final against Roma. He came on as a replacement for Luís Figo, scoring in the 83rd minute. Inter went on to win the final 6–5 on penalties after the match ended 2–2. In November 2008 Balotelli became the youngest Inter player (at 18 years and 85 days) to score in the Champions League when he scored a goal in a 3–3 draw against Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta, beating the previous record set by Obafemi Martins (at 18 years and 145 days).[22] In an April 2009 match with Juventus where he scored Inter's only goal in a 1–1 draw, Balotelli was racially abused by Juventus fans throu! ghout the game. This led Inter owner Massimo Moratti to say that he would have pulled the team off the pitch had he been present.[23] The racist chants were also condemned by Juventus chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli and Juventus were given a one game home-fan ban because of the incident.[24] Inter won Serie A for the fourth time in a row.[25] In his second season with Inter, Balotelli had a number of disciplinary problems, most notably involving head coach José Mourinho who excluded him from the first team in the second half of January 2009. Earlier that season Mourinho had accused Balotelli of showing a lack of effort in training,[26] stating "as far as I'm concerned, a young boy like him cannot allow himself to train less than people like Figo, Córdoba, and Zanetti."[27] Balotelli continued to be the subject of racist chants throughout the season, becoming the focus of Juventus fans even during games not involving Inter, leading to Juventus being fined twice and the clu! b ultimately punished with a partial stadium closure.[28] Balotelli's d! isciplinary problems, and his difficult relationship with Mourinho, continued in the 2009–10 season. In November Inter drew 1–1 against Roma and Mourinho criticized his players, even going as far as saying that Balotelli "came close to a zero rating".[29] Balotelli had another negative encounter with Juventus fans in the heated Derby d'Italia encounter in an away match against Juventus on 5 December 2009, which Inter lost 2–1. When he was elbowed by Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo in the shoulder, Balotelli fell theatrically onto the pitch, for which he was booked, while Melo was sent off for a second yellow card. The incident sparked an altercation between Balotelli's teammate Thiago Motta and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.[30][31][32] The tension between Balotelli and Mourinho reached its peak on the eve of the UEFA Champions League second leg against Chelsea after the young striker was not called-up, following an altercation his manager.[33] Despite Inter's ! 1–0 win at Stamford Bridge, London, Balotelli was criticized by several senior players including captain Javier Zanetti[34] and veteran defender Marco Materazzi, as well as by his own agent.[35] In March, 2010 he came under heavy criticism from fans after he publicly sported an A.C. Milan (Inter's cross-town rivals) jersey on the Italian show Striscia la Notizia.[36] Zlatan Ibrahimović with Balotelli Balotelli released a statement of apology in Inter Milan's official website that read: " "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 Balotelli[37] " After a falling-out with Mourinho, Balotelli was recalled for Inter's April 2010 match against Bologna, and he marked his r! eturn with a goal in their 3–0 win.[38] He again caused controversy i! n the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on 20 April 2010 as he threw his jersey on the ground after the final whistle, in response to Inter fans who had booed him for his poor performance.[39] Disgruntled fans confronted and tried to attack Balotelli after the game. His behavior 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."[40] Amid these controversies with his club and manager, many Premier League teams, including Manchester United and Manchester City, indicated that they were interested in signing Balotelli in July 2010.[41] Manchester City 2010–11 After weeks of speculation Inter reached an agreement for Balotelli's transfer to Manchester City on 12 August 2010 for €22 million, for which Inter made a profit of €21.856 million.[42][43] At Manchester City Balotelli reunited with his former boss, Roberto Mancini,[44] ! who said, "His style of play will suit the Premier League, and because he is still so young there is a big chance for him to improve. He is a strong and exciting player, and City fans will enjoy watching him."[45] Balotelli (right) with Alex Song in April 2012. On 19 August 2010 Balotelli came on as a substitute to score in his debut against Politehnica Timişoara in a 1–0 away win in the Europa League.[46] However, in the match he injured the lateral meniscus in his right knee and on 8 September underwent surgery that sidelined him until October.[47] Balotelli eventually made his Premier League debut on 24 October as a substitute in a 3–0 home defeat to Arsenal[48] and made his first Premier League on 30 October in a 2–1 away defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.[49] Balotelli scored his first and second Premier Leag
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Striker Mario Balotelli joined City from Internazionale in August 2010, bringing w! ith him both Champions League and Serie A-winning experience. Born in P! alermo, Italy Read the rest
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Mario Barwuah Balotelli (born 12 August 1990) is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City and the Italy national team. He started his Read the rest
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