Mario Balotelli (Part 1)

Mario Balotelli Barwuah, born on August 12, 1990, is an Italian professional footballer known for his role as a striker for Süper Lig club Adana Demirspor.
Balotelli's professional football journey began in 2005 at Lumezzane before he moved to Inter Milan in 2007. He achieved great success with Inter, winning the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and UEFA Champions League treble in 2010. Later, he reunited with his former Inter manager Roberto Mancini at Manchester City in 2010, where he contributed to winning the Premier League title and FA Cup.


In January 2013, Balotelli transferred to AC Milan, a rival club of Inter, before making a move back to the Premier League with Liverpool 18 months later. After a loan spell with Milan, he ventured to France, playing for Nice and Marseille in Ligue 1. He returned to Italy, joining Serie A clubs Brescia in the summer of 2019 and Monza in late 2020. In the subsequent summer, he signed with Turkish club Adana Demirspor.
Internationally, Balotelli earned his first cap for Italy in 2010 and represented his country in several major tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2012, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Notably, he played a significant role in Italy's Euro 2012 campaign, scoring twice against Germany in the semi-final and helping his team reach the final. He also won bronze at the Confederations Cup. Balotelli holds the joint-top scorer position for Italy in both the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA Confederations Cup.


Known for his versatility as a forward, Balotelli possesses strength, pace, and a sharp eye for goal. He is particularly esteemed for his prowess as a penalty kick taker. However, despite his undeniable talent, Balotelli has faced criticism for his attitude both on and off the field throughout his career.
Mario Balotelli, originally born Mario Barwuah in Palermo, Sicily, was born to Ghanaian immigrants. When he was two years old, his family relocated to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy. However, when Balotelli was three, due to financial constraints preventing his biological family from meeting his healthcare needs, he was placed in foster care with the Balotelli family.


Silvia and Francesco Balotelli, the foster parents, provided him with a stable home in Concesio, Brescia, in northern Italy. Initially, Balotelli would spend weekdays with the Balotelli family and weekends with his biological parents. Eventually, he became a full-time member of the Balotelli household and formally adopted their surname.
In June 2012, Balotelli dedicated the goals that propelled Italy into the final of the Euro 2012 football championships to his foster mother, Silvia. Despite being raised by the Balotellis, Balotelli had to wait until his 18th birthday to request Italian citizenship since he had not been formally adopted. He was granted Italian citizenship on August 13, 2008, in Concesio.
Balotelli expressed his deep connection to Italy, stating, "I am Italian, I feel Italian, I will forever play with the Italian national team."


Balotelli has three biological siblings: Abigail, Enoch, and Angel Barwuah. Notably, Enoch Barwuah, who is two years younger than Balotelli, also pursued a career in professional football.
Balotelli's football journey began with Inter Milan in 2006 when he was signed on loan from Lumezzane with a pre-set price for co-ownership. Inter exercised the option to purchase the other half in June 2007. He made his debut for Inter's first team in December 2007, showcasing his talent with a notable performance in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina, scoring two goals.


During his time at Inter, Balotelli gained national attention for his exceptional skills on the field. He became the youngest Inter player to score in the UEFA Champions League and contributed significantly to Inter's Serie A victory in the 2007–08 season. However, Balotelli also faced racial abuse from fans of opposing teams, particularly from Juventus supporters.
In the 2009–10 season, Balotelli's disciplinary issues and strained relationship with coach José Mourinho came to the forefront. He faced criticism from Mourinho and senior players for his attitude and behavior, including an incident where he publicly sported an AC Milan shirt on television. Despite these challenges, Balotelli continued to showcase his talent on the field, scoring crucial goals for Inter.


However, his controversial behavior, including throwing his shirt on the ground after a Champions League match against Barcelona, led to further scrutiny from fans and teammates. Amidst these controversies, several English Premier League clubs expressed interest in signing Balotelli in 2010, indicating his potential as a top-level player despite his off-field issues.
Mario Balotelli made a high-profile move to Manchester City on August 12, 2010, in a deal worth €21.8 million. Reuniting with his former coach Roberto Mancini from Inter Milan, Balotelli aimed to showcase his talents in the Premier League. Despite an initial injury setback, he made a memorable debut for Manchester City by scoring against Politehnica Timișoara in the UEFA Europa League. However, he suffered a knee injury during the match, requiring surgery that kept him sidelined until October.


Balotelli eventually made his Premier League debut in October 2010 and quickly made an impact, scoring his first two league goals in November against West Bromwich Albion. His performances were notable, earning him the Golden Boy Award in December 2010. Despite his success on the field, Balotelli continued to struggle with disciplinary issues, receiving a red card for violent conduct against West Bromwich Albion. However, he also displayed moments of brilliance, including scoring his first Premier League hat-trick against Aston Villa and being named man of the match in Manchester City's 2011 FA Cup Final victory over Stoke City, their first trophy in 35 years.


During the 2011-2012 season, Mario Balotelli continued to make headlines both on and off the pitch for Manchester City. He kicked off the campaign with notable performances, scoring crucial goals against Birmingham City, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers. One of his standout moments came in October 2011 when he scored twice and forced the dismissal of Jonny Evans as Manchester City secured a historic 6-1 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.


Balotelli also made his mark in the UEFA Champions League, scoring a penalty against Villarreal in November 2011. However, his season was marred by disciplinary issues. In November, he was sent off against Liverpool, and in December, he scored a controversial goal using his shoulder against Norwich City. Balotelli's temperament was again called into question in January 2012 when he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker during a match against Tottenham Hotspur. Although he avoided punishment during the game, he was later charged with violent conduct and received a four-match suspension.


Despite his disciplinary problems, Balotelli continued to find the net, scoring his tenth league goal of the season against Blackburn in February 2012. He followed this up with another goal against Bolton Wanderers. However, his behavior on the pitch remained a concern, with Roberto Mancini publicly criticizing him for his actions during a match against Sunderland in March.
Balotelli's tumultuous season reached a climax in April 2012 when he received his fourth red card of the season for a tackle against Bacary Sagna during a match against Arsenal. He was subsequently banned for three matches. Despite speculation about his future at Manchester City, Balotelli made a late appearance as a substitute in the crucial title-deciding match against Queens Park Rangers. He provided the assist for Sergio Agüero's dramatic title-winning goal in the 94th minute, securing Manchester City's first league title since 1968.

References

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2. ^ "Mario Balotelli". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
3. ^ "Mario Balotelli". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
4. ^ "Mario Balotelli" (in French). FC Sion. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
5. a b c d e f g h i Mario Balotelli at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
6. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil List of Players" (PDF). fifa.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 10 June 2014. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
7. ^ "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 210" [Official Communication No. 210] (PDF). legaseriea.it (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 22 April 2016. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
8. ^ Menicucci, Paolo (15 April 2016). "Stars of UEFA EURO 2016: Gianluigi Buffon". UEFA.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
9. ^ "Confederations Cup: Gol Fatti" (in Italian). Italia1910. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
10. a b c Fiske, Gavriel. "The improbable Jewish 'heritage' of Italy's goal-scoring eccentric". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
11. ^ Jump up to:
12. a b "Mario Story". Mario Balotelli Official Website. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2010.