AC Milan have run out of patience with Mario Balotelli and his antics and are prepared to sell him this summer, with Arsenal and Tottenham interested. When Milan lost to Roma on Friday night, Balotelli was substituted and then clashed with the journalists.
Reports in Italy claim that the outburst is the final straw for the striker and that he will be sold at the end of the season. Sky Sport Italia pundit Giancarlo Marocchi suggested that Balotelli hadn’t proved to be a top player because he still didn’t move enough when he was off the ball in the game.
The Italian wasn’t happy with the claim and responded: “You don’t understand anything about football. Trust me, you really don’t. It isn’t nice? I don’t care. I don’t care. I never said I’m a top player. I am a perfectly normal player, it will take time to become world class, but the reasons why I am not a top player are not the same reasons you think.
“Every game is different. If I didn’t get near the goal once tonight, then there has to be a reason. You always talk about me. When Milan win Mario’s great, when Milan lose it’s all Mario’s fault. You expect me to score five goals a game. I don’t need your criticism, I make my own criticism. You always talk and talk, say I’m precious to Italian football, but there’s no point to saying these things. No point.”
The foward then took to Twitter after the match to express his disbelief about how he ‘divides’ Italy. He said: “Mamma mia, I divide Italy in two! Amazing! While almost everyone overseas is united with me! What a strange game.”
It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal and Tottenham are ready to capitalise on this opportunity and make a move for the occasionally volatile striker, or whether they would rather let another team deal with his behaviour – but miss out on his goals and his sometimes amazing performances.
By Charlie Gregory
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