Book description
Mario Balotelli is already a footballing legend Â- and he's only
22. Incredibly talented, yet frequently controversial both on and off
the pitch, Balotelli lit up the Premier League from the moment he
signed for Manchester City in 2010. Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents,
he suffered life-threatening health problems as a baby. By the age of
three he had recovered, but his parents then entrusted him to a foster
family and Mario grew up in the affluent village of Concesio. He began
his footballing career with Lumezzane, earning promotion to the first
team at the age of just 15. Balotelli's skill soon brought him to the
attention of Inter Milan and he signed with them in 2006. Having made
his first team debut in 2007, he became the youngest Inter player to
score in the Champions League in November 2008. His second season at
Inter was blighted by disciplinary problems, and a series of
high-profile clashes with manager Jose Mourinho paved the way for a
move to the Premier League. Reunited with former boss Roberto Mancini
at Manchester City, Balotelli soon made his mark with a series of
stunning goals Â- and yet more incidents Â- which led to him being the
subject of increasingly implausible newspaper reports about his
antics. But the 2010/11 season was to end in glory, with a
man-of-the-match performance as City won the FA Cup. A stunning
performance in the Euro 2012 semi-final against Germany sealed
Balotelli's status as a legend. This was eclipsed in the final game of
the 2011/12 Premier League season, when Balotelli provided the assist
to Sergio Aguero, who scored in the 94th minute to give City their
first league title since 1968. He is sure to provide entertainment,
goals and controversy for years to come. Mercurial, troublesome and
frequently brilliant, this is the incredible story of the most
fascinating man in world football today.
