Mario Balotelli, born on August 12, 1990, is an Italian international footballer known for his unique status in world football as a cult player due to his often comical escapades on and off the field. He began his professional career at the age of 15 with Lumezzane in Serie C1 and joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2006. Balotelli won the Scudetto Primavera with Inter’s young team and made his first-team debut under Roberto Mancini.
Balotelli’s relationship with Jose Mourinho at Inter was stormy, with the player being a half-starter and half-substitute. In the summer of 2010, he moved to Manchester City for €28 million. During his time at City, Balotelli scored twice in a historic derby against Manchester United and became a key figure in the team’s title-winning campaign in the English Premier League.
Despite success, Balotelli struggled with injuries and off-field incidents. He returned to Italy during the 2013 winter transfer window, joining AC Milan for €20 million. By the age of 22, he had already won three Serie A titles (2008, 2009, 2010) and a Champions League (2010). Balotelli’s career is marked by his talent, speed, and powerful striking ability, but his mentality, arrogance, and mannerisms often created controversies.
It’s worth noting that in the summer of 2007, Balotelli was summoned by the Ghanaian national team but chose to play for Italy instead.
