Italian starlet Mario Balotelli’s poorly attempted backheel has drawn criticism from all quarters, with the enfant terrible not even safe from the scathing condemnation of his teammates. But why?
For those who missed it, Balotelli’s backheel in the so-called ‘World Football Challenge’ (which in reality was a meaningless friendly played in Los Angeles) against the LA Galaxy (see it below) led to a furious Roberto Mancini dragging the 20-year-old striker from the pitch after only 30 minutes.
Led by the on-field actions of Edin Dzeko and Nigel De Jong, hardly a pillar of footballing morality himself, Balotelli was roundly criticised, with the previously invisible Galaxy crowd getting in on the act.
For an English football media starved of any real off-season action, it was the proverbial red rag.
Now before any justification of his actions can occur, it is pertinent to acknowledge Balotelli’s eccentric and increasingly-stupid behaviour.
His summer break has so far entailed:
– Being whisked around by the Italian mafia as he took a day trip around the crime-ridden streets of Napoli.
– Being photographed smoking at the team hotel during Manchester City’s current preseason tour of the USA.
– Storming out of the dressing room after the team’s recent friendly against Vancouver Whitecaps, refusing to speak with the waiting media before sitting, and waiting, on the bus, all with the now-customary Balotelli scowl.
His recent misdemeanors come hot on the trail of a bizarre late season indiscretion, when ‘Super Mario’ was caught throwing darts from a second-storey window at youth players while at City’s Carrington training venue.
So it is fair to say that the young Italian might have a little bit to learn…
Because of this, Roberto Mancini’s decision to demonstrably remove Balotelli can certainly be understood.
In his spells coaching Balotelli at City and Internazionale, Mancini has had a difficult time managing consistent acts of teenage petulance from the striker, and would rightly feel that he must stamp his authority and demand Balotelli mature.
As a manager, it is his right to do so. But does that give the right for his teammates, the crowd and the Galaxy coach Bruce Arenas to have their say?
Firstly, Nigel De Jong is in no position a take the high ground on anything – his ‘respect’ for the opposition was plain to see on his horrific assaults of Hatem Ben Arfa and Xabi Alonso last year, which has saw him banished from his national team.
Secondly, despite the attempt to dress-up the ‘World Football Challenge’, it was a meaningless friendly, and one that no City player would really be interesting in playing.
Lastly, so what if Balotelli wants to be a lair?
Granted, his execution of the Zidane-esque pirouette-and-backheel was a miserable failure, but what would the reaction have been if he had pulled it off? Would the crowd still have booed?
Did they boo after he nonchalantly (and, yes, most would say arrogantly) rolled his penalty into the corner of the net?
From Maradona to Messi, acts of brilliance on the football field do, and must, contain a little bit of arrogance. It is what makes the game special. The impossible appear momentarily possible.
Sure, Balotelli must respect his opponent, but let Mancini make him learn this.
The rest of us should hope we continue to witness the one of the most prodigious talents in Europe blossom into the superstar he rightly should be.
Ali Alhosany
Guest
Mario copied the UAE player Theyab Awnah when he scored the back heel penalty, and I believe that its not a disrespect, because if you will count it so then dribbling is disrespecting the opponent because the player fool/trick the opponent
max
Guest
i have to agree totally with u that it is a meaningless exhibition match and thus super mario should be allowed to display some flair because where else would you be able to get away with it? Its rather poor judgement to call him immature and berate because of his age and that he should straighten up because its his life and we have seen worse role models. He doesnt hit players or tackles like de jong leave him alone he has more potential than anyone in world football
p.Tah
Guest
If the shot had gone in people would be calling him a magician... Wonder if he's worked out how to put a playing bib on yet :)
stabpass
Guest
I read it to fast, and thought what has Carlton premiership player Mario Bortolotto done ?.
Darren
Guest
It's the way he reacts to the shot. Most players would apologize to their teammates after a shot like that. He just stands their defending himself.
tommy_doleman
Roar Pro
I agree with most of the posts, I can't see what the fuss is all about. It was extremely reckless though. The substitution was the right thing to do. At this level of football and with the money that players are paid nowadays, you simply do your job which is to put the ball in the back of the net (if you're Balotelli). Bondy from above is right, if he's doing it now then what's to stop him doing it in a cup tie or in a Premier League fixture (and trust me, much more would be made of it then). Plus the LA Galaxy players probably would have been kicking lumps out of him for the next hour. Pull him off, tell him he can't do it, but do it behind closed doors. Half of the reason why this is such an issue is because of that touch-line spat.
Daniel
Guest
Firstly there is no such thing as a friendly at that level and there is no time for stupid tricks in that situation in a match. If fans want passion, which most players have, it is results driven. I doubt any city players cracked a smile when this happened and were happy to see him off. Also I understand some people think the criticism has been a bit over the top, but this is by far not the first idiotic action he's taken. This article mentions a few previous events, also i remember reading an article some months back now of his parking fines totaling up into the tens of thousands of dollars by parking wherever he sees fit. He obviously needs to grow up, he's acting like he's 12. And all te comments about him being just a kid so be lenient, he's playing in the top football league in the world living an adult life, he has to take responsibility. I'm only 18 and you don't see me contemplating most of the stuff he has done ever. Tear up his contract and send him home, I'm sure fellow man city players will not mind. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Nam Turk
Guest
So first it's just a friendly, but then it's a gauge of MLS quality? American sides are stretched thin enough for the US Open Cup, let alone meaningless friendlies. I'll never get why everyone assumes the MLS sides put their best foot forward while the Euro superclub is just half-assing its way to greatness.
TomC
Guest
The problem is he's in the wrong section of the entertainment industry. He'd make a great 'heel' on the professional wrestling circuit.
Phutbol
Guest
Also worth remembering that despite his rise to fame and riches, he is still a kid. Sometimes kids do dumb s--t. Good response from Mancini though and thats where it should end.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Bondy Wait till the HAL starts and we'll be at each other's throats! ;-) As I see it, he has been dubbed "Super Mario" as a result of these tricks. When they don't work the fans (& manager) will call it lairising, but when it work .... well, that's the sort of skill that would get fans through the gate and leave them speechless. Check out Super Mario's footwork on this clip - particularly around 0:58 onwards ... as he waltzes past Italian Serie A defenders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gcqq-wDTx4&feature=related
Futbanous
Guest
Its a fine line in football sometimes between a performing seal & using your undoubted skills to make a serious contribution to a match. This was a friendly so you would expect some leniency. However in the mind of coaches at the top ,there is no such thing as a friendly. For Mancini ,this is serious preperation for the upcoming EPL season. In his mind there is no place for mug lairs & performing seals.
midfield general
Guest
Agreed, they should give this kid a break, can't understand the chorus of indignation that followed this incident. I've been watching a few of these pre season games in US and there seem be a bigger gulf in class between EPL and MLS teams than I thought, a lot more than when UK teams come and play in our shores. Just an observation.
Bondy
Guest
Fussball . It would be abnormal to agree with everybody all the time ,but i think he's an idiot ,you make the point of a friendly but he's likely to do that in Rd 20 of the premier league or in a champs lge game . Fuss , i see it differently he didn't know whether he was on or off and didn't play the whistle and did a lazy backheel,and then got dragged off the pitch ( albeit Mancini wanted to fight him when he came of the pitch ) . I have a prediction that Mario Balotelli will be sold back to the seria A buy the end of this coming season .
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'm all for showing respect to your opponent, but I can't see what the fuss is about in this instance. For heaven's sake, this was a friendly - sometimes referred to as "an exhibition match" - and such an occasion is the opportune time for players to have a bit of fun, give the crowd a bit of entertainment and demonstrate a few tricks that they could normally never try in a meaningful game when pragmatism overrides flair since the it's all about "the result". I don't watch a lot of Man City, but I've noticed that type of spin trickery - albeit without the cheeky back-heel shot - is often used by Balotelli during a meaningful games and he even used it to tremendous effect to set up scoring chances several times during this year's FA Cup Final. Fans say they want to be entertained but when someone tries to entertain them they start complaining.