Mario Balotelli

Gazzetta sorry over Balotelli King Kong cartoon

Krakow: Top Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has apologised for printing a cartoon portraying black Italy striker Mario Balotelli as King Kong. Media reports said Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola had reacted with fury at the depiction, which comes after the 21-year-old has battled racism in his homeland and abroad for years. The cartoon of the Manchester City forward on top of London's Big Ben swatting away footballs was meant...  

Balotelli ends his scoring drought with Italy

Poznan, Poland: Mario Balotelli finally broke his scoring drought at the European Championship, and he apparently has team-mate Leonardo Bonucci to thank for preventing his breakthrough moment from turning sour. Balotelli came off the bench and scored a spectacular second goal for Italy in the 90th minute of a 2-0 win over Ireland on Monday that put the Azzurri into the quarter-finals. Immediately after he scored, Bonucci rushed over and...  

Balotelli, Di Natale are a study in contrasts

Gdansk (Poland): Mario Balotelli confirmed his reputation as an uncontrollable talent. Antonio Di Natale confirmed his as a late-blooming but utterly pure goalscorer. The study in contrasts could not have been greater between the two Italy forwards during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Spain at the European Championship. The 21-year-old Balotelli earned one yellow card and could have easily been handed another, then wasted his best scoring chance by inexplicably waiting...  

Balotelli vows to behave at Euro 2012

Milan: Mario Balotelli has assured Italy coach Cesare Prandelli that he will be on his best behaviour for the duration of the Azzurri's Euro 2012 campaign. The Manchester City forward's antics have dominated the headlines in Britain throughout the season, leading to speculation that he would not be trusted to lead the line at Euro 2012. However, Balotelli has stated that he is ready to curtail his erratic behaviour in...  

Balotelli set to be sold in the summer: Mancini

London: Controversial striker Mario Balotelli will not be picked again this season by Manchester City and is likely to be sold at the end of the campaign, said manager Roberto Mancini after their 1-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal on Sunday. Balotelli was sent off for the second time this season as City's hopes of lifting the top-flight title for the first time in 44 years were effectively extinguished at...  

'Would have hit Balotelli if he was my teammate'

Manchester: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted he gets so frustrated with striker Mario Balotelli that he has to stop himself from punching him. The Italian said that had he played alongside his compatriot, rather than managed him, the pair would have come to blows on a daily basis. Mancini told the Daily Mirror: "I told Mario, 'If you played with me 10 years ago, Id give to you...  

Balotelli escapes unhurt from car crash

Manchester: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli escaped unhurt after being involved in a car crash on Thursday. Police said officers responded to reports of a collision between two cars shortly after 3:15pm at Deansgate Locks in Manchester city centre. City said no one was injured in the incident and that Balotelli, who was driving a Bentley, was not at fault. According to reports, Balotelli was shook up after the incident...  

Mancini admits he cannot trust Balotelli

Manchester: Mario Balotelli cannot be trusted in Manchester Citys crucial title run-in, manager Roberto Mancini has admitted. The Italian boss, who lost topscorer Sergio Aguero to a foot injury this week, is facing a striker crisis, with Edin Dzeko only hitting the net twice in his last 17 games while Carlos Tevez is returning to match fitness after a three-month absence in Argentina. And the burden could be left upon...