"I AM LEGEND"
If I had my wits about me, I’d be hastily penning a Balotelli biography because the young Italian’s story takes more twists and turns than a Dan Brown deus ex machina, and yet, it all feels oddly predictable. Less than a week after proclaiming himself to be a young soccer deity surpassed only by Lionel Messi in the world game, we’re learning that a. he doesn’t really like Manchester and b. he’s expressing feelings of homesickness for Italy.
We’ll sidestep the bafflement of his homesickness—seriously, he gets nothing but racism and death threats back home, yet he missed the attention, maybe?—and focus on the fact that really, Manchester City was never the best move for him.
While Sheikh Mansour’s bottomless bank accounts are like catnip to the top 5% of soccer players, there’s something to be said for the benefits of finding a career move that guarantees steady development over being thrust head-first into a team that’s looking to win now at all costs. Maybe there is a grand dynasty project afoot at Eastlands, but whether or not it has room for a yet-to-perform teenager in a high-pressure league is another story altogether.
That said, I’m betting that this is the next manifestation of Balotelli’s infamous ego; the fact is that Carlos Tevez is much better than Mario, and with room in Mancini’s blueprints for one main striker, Mario’s likely getting outraged that it’s not his name automatically daubed on the teamsheet ahead of Carlito. And so, we get a clumsy bit about him pining for the homeland, a kind of manufactured homesickness only matched by Tevez in recent weeks.
We know he’s not going anywhere—as if Citeh would sell on their investment so quickly, given Roberto Mancini’s hopes of building a legacy at Eastlands—but this represents yet another off-pitch mess for Mancini to navigate, and yet another off-field distraction to cloud their recent run of form.
Can Manchester City ever enjoy a quiet day free of headlines? Comes with the territory, I guess.
Or maybe he’s just immature.
So, the Robinho path is where this is going perhaps?
Meh, I don’t know. It’s fine to say City wasn’t the best move for him, but where pray tell would be the best move? Milan? It’s not like that situation is any less crazy or less packed with attacking talent with Cassano, ‘Dinho, Robinho, Ibra, etc.
@Ryan – When ‘dinho leaves and Mario arrives Allegri can play the 4-2-4. Kompany would slot in nicely in that midfield…
While Kompany is more than adequate at DM, he’s even better at central defense.
Balotelli post-match interview today. It’s awesome. Poor interviewer.
It’s almost like the interviewer is trying to lead him into saying the right things, and while he doesn’t necessarily say the wrong things, he doesn’t make the most convincing case for his “happiness”
I’m sure he’s just a really, really big fan of gelato.