Fifteen years ago today, Mario Balotelli produced one of the most Balotelli moments of his Man City career — and Roberto Mancini didn’t hang about dealing with it.
City were on their pre-season tour of the United States, facing LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. Balotelli had already scored from the penalty spot when David Silva put him clean through on goal in the first half, one on one with the goalkeeper. Rather than simply finish it, Balotelli span through 180 degrees and attempted an outrageous backheel. It rolled harmlessly wide.
Edin Dzeko’s reaction said it all. Mancini’s said more. Balotelli was hauled off after just half an hour, substituted on the spot as a message to the rest of the squad. “If you are serious, you can play 90 minutes,” Mancini said afterwards. “If not, you can come and sit by me on the bench.”
Balotelli later offered his own explanation, via former teammate Micah Richards: he claimed he thought he’d heard a whistle for offside. Few were convinced then, and fewer still are now.
It was one entry in a growing list that summer — a dart thrown at a youth-team player in March, two red cards already picked up since joining from Inter the year before. City still had the last laugh: they won the friendly on penalties, and eight months later Balotelli teed up Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal against QPR, arguably buying himself a lifetime’s forgiveness at the Etihad.
