Italian international of Ghanaian descent Mario Balotelli has potentially reignited tensions with Genoa’s manager, Patrick Vieira, following a sarcastic post on Instagram after Sunday’s goalless draw against Lecce.
The striker remained on the bench throughout the match, prompting his cryptic response that has drawn significant attention.
This statement has been widely interpreted as a subtle jab at Vieira’s choice to exclude him from the game.
“I want to clarify that I am fully fit and that, thanks to God, I have no problems .
“I’ll anticipate this just in case silly things are said in the future, as has already happened in similar situations in the past.”
Vieira responded to the situation by downplaying the implications, asserting, “Mario is an important player… We have other players on the bench. We are a team, and we are all important.”
However, reports from Italy indicate that Balotelli’s limited playing time could lead to his departure from Genoa, especially with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The ongoing friction between Balotelli and Vieira is not unprecedented, as they previously had a tumultuous relationship during their tenure at Nice.