Mario was eager to show City fans just what he was capable of after scoring on his debut in the Europa League clash in Romania. But the ‘knock’ he had suffered against FC Timisoara would prove to be substantially more than that – and he would now be sidelined for just over two months.
It was a big setback for the Italian – like most competitive players he hated sitting around on the sidelines and found it tough going as he worked on a programme of rehabilitation. The ‘knock’ proved to be a bad injury to the lateral meniscus in his right knee – an injury that would require surgery and put him out of action until the end of October 2010.
City announced on 8 September that the knee would need surgery after attempts to let the injury clear up itself with rest and physio failed. Goal.com and BBC Sport were the first to reveal the setback. Goal said, ‘[Balotelli’s] hope of making his home debut for Manchester City on Saturday against Blackburn have been dashed after the club confirmed that he will undergo knee surgery that will keep him out of action for “up to six weeks”. The striker picked up the injury in City’s Europa League win over FC Timisoara on August 19, a game in which Balotelli scored just 15 minutes after coming off the bench. With key Premier League games against Chelsea and Arsenal coming up for City, the club had hoped that surgery wouldn’t be needed to solve the problem, but they have now confirmed that it was the only option.’
While the BBC added, ‘…despite undergoing a rest period since in a bid to cure the problem, the club decided to operate after a setback in training this week. The Italian will therefore miss City’s Premier League match against Chelsea and a Europa League tie with Juventus. Balotelli signed from Inter Milan in the summer for £21m but has played only 33 minutes for the club so far - as a second-half substitute in City’s 1-0 Europa League win over Romanian side Timisoara last month.’
The club confirmed the situation, saying, ‘Striker Mario Balotelli is to undergo surgery on his injured knee that could rule him out for up to six weeks. Roberto Mancini’s summer capture from Inter has flown back to Milan with key Barclays Premier League clashes against champions Chelsea and top-four rivals Arsenal looming at City of Manchester Stadium.
‘Balotelli, who damaged the knee during his scoring debut against Timisoara in Romania last month, will also miss the Europa League group home game against his old rivals Juventus. The Italian’s injury is to the lateral meniscus, one of the two most crucial structures in the knee, and medical wisdom is to try and encourage the problem to heal without recourse to an operation.
‘It was hoped that the symptoms would settle down but once Balotelli began to step up his recovery programme this week, it became clear that action would need to be taken.’
Some City fans now voiced fears that Balotelli had been a waste of money; that he was injury-prone, temperamental (as exhibited by his booking in Romania when he clashed with one of their players) and that he was only using Manchester as an indirect route to make it back to Milan. That he actually wanted to play for AC Milan but knew Inter would not sell him directly – so he was using City as a staging-post to AC Milan. But other fans rushed to reassure the doubters. One said, ‘Easily your best signing chaps. I’ve seen him play plenty in Serie A and he has everything. Blistering pace, wonderful technique (both shooting and delivery) and physical strength. I can’t say I enjoy City buying lots of high profile players, and do believe some have been rushed, expensive and unnecessary (Silva maybe, Kolarov) but this guy can take you to the next level.
‘If you throw in Yaya and Milner, along with existing players Tevez and Kompany, and providing you can keep hold of them all, you have 5 plus positions that are covered for another 5-7 years or more. Best of luck to Super Mario, from a football fan’s point of view I’m itching to see him light up the Prem.’
While another added, ‘In every generation of footballers there are a few elite players that will outshine the rest. But out of these few elite superstars only one will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. And out of these all-time-greats only one will have the berth bestowed on him as the greatest player to have ever graced the football pitch. This man will be Super Mario Balotelli.’
My sources confirmed that Mario WAS committed to City and had no intention of cutting loose early and heading back to Milan. ‘OK, one day he would for sure like to play for AC,’ I was told, ‘but that would be one day far in the future. His friends and family were back in Milan and Italy so it is inevitable that he will return one day. But not for some years – his intention was to stay at City for a few years and learn and grow as a person and a footballer.
‘He knew he had to escape the goldfish bowl of Italian football and he had no wish to go back until the racism issue was sorted…which could take many years. It was certainly NOT the case that he wanted to go back as soon as he had got to Manchester. He wanted to show the City fans what he could do and he wanted to repay Mancini for having the faith to pay so much money for him. He was gutted that he got injured so early in his City career and his only aim was to get fit again and do the business for the fans who were clearly so keen to see him in action. I would say there was little chance of him leaving City for some years – certainly not unless Mancini headed off into the sunset. That might change his view, but he wanted to stay and play.’
The Associated Press reported that Mario’s operation had gone well. He had returned to Italy for it so that he could convalesce with friends and family. AP announced on Thursday September 9, ‘Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has undergone successful surgery on a right knee injury that is expected to keep him out for about six weeks. The 20-year-old striker waved to reporters from his window at the San Matteo hospital in Pavia, Italy, on Thursday, shirtless but wearing a shower cap. Earlier, surgeons took 20 minutes to remove part of the lateral meniscus on his right knee, which he tore in a Europa League match against FC Timisoara last month. Balotelli scored the winner in that game, his debut for City after he joined for 22.5 million pounds ($35 million) from Inter Milan.’
His convalescence began a couple of days after the op, when he left the hospital – and the first thing he stressed as he limped away was how keen he was to play for City. As the Mail reported, ‘Mario Balotelli is desperate to pull on a Manchester City shirt again following a successful operation on his injured knee. His recovery is expected to take around six weeks but the 20-year-old was staying positive as he left the San Matteo hospital in Pavia, Italy. “I’m fine and the surgery went well,” he told corrieredellosport.it. “I hope to return to play in as little time as possible.”’
Not the most patient of men, Mario nonetheless allowed himself some healing time after the operation. By the end of September, 2010, the knee had improved dramatically and he was ready to begin light training. On 30 September, Mancini said, ‘He is (still) in Italy today and his knee is okay. I think he may be ready at the end of October.’ If the prognosis proved correct, Balotelli would be available for City’s home clash against fellow Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal. That match would take place in Manchester on Sunday 24 October and a few days beforehand Mancini gave Mario a major boost by naming him in the squad for the game.
He had trained with his team-mates during the week before the crunch title clash and was expected to make the subs’ bench if there were no further setbacks to the knee. Mario did make the bench for the match, and came on as a sub for his home debut after 72 minutes, replacing Gareth Barry. But it would not be a home debut he would want to remember as City crashed 3-0 to the Gunners.
City had been up against it from just five minutes in when Dedryck Boyata was sent off for bringing down Marouane Chamakh when he was the last defender. The Blues were 2-0 down when Mario appeared and he was unable to turn things around. Understandably he was a little rusty having been out of action for so long. He found it difficult to impose himself on the game and Arsenal went on to score again, through a late Nicklas Bendtner goal.
Mancini was, understandably, depressed by the result but was still optimistic about the future – and was convinced that Mario would help bring about a better future at City. He declared himself ‘pleased’ that Mario had come back from injury without any further setbacks and added, ‘I think against Arsenal it is difficult to play 11 versus 11. Ten against 11 is worse but it is my opinion that we if played 11 against 11 we would have won this game. I am very proud of my players because I think they played very well. They tried always to score, always to defend very well. I think they showed we are one of the best teams in the Premier League.’
Mario had been at City for more than two months but had yet to make his full debut for the club after suffering that injury blow in Romania. But now he was finally reaching peak fitness and was ready to roll – much to his and Mancini’s relief.
‘He was just glad to get through the Arsenal match without aggravating the injury,’ I was told. ‘Of course the result was a disappointment and he would have liked to have done more to impress the fans – but he knew his time would come. His aim was to be fully fit and then he would show how good he was.’
The chance came sooner than he had expected. Mancini took him aside a couple of days before City’s match and told Mario that he would finally be in the starting line-up for the club. The landmark occasion would be against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux and Mario was suitably excited at the prospect. ‘He wasn’t nervous,’ I was told, ‘he doesn’t really get affected by nerves. But he was really looking forward to it – it had been a long time coming and now he was determined to go out there and make an impact.’
But it didn’t quite work out how Mario would have liked. For the second game in a row he and City were on the wrong end of a defeat, this time unexpectedly losing 2-1 as Wolves belied their status as one of the favourites for relegation from the Premier League. Mario admitted the match was ‘frustrating’ for him with only a yellow card to commemorate his big day in English football – and few signs of the talent and technique that had persuaded Mancini to fork out a fortune for his services. Mario had taken the place of the injured Tevez in the team, but it was a full debut he would want to forget – as Paul Jiggins of the Sun pointed out, ‘Tevez’s absence meant Mario Balotelli was finally handed his full debut following his arrival from Inter in August. Before Saturday, the only impression the 6ft 3in striker had made in Manchester was on the BMW he collided with while at the wheel of his Audi. Well, after his debut he can now say he has been involved in two car crashes since joining City.
‘Balotelli, like his team-mates, faded badly after Emmanuel Adebayor fired them ahead with a 23rd-minute penalty following Richard Stearman’s foul on David Silva. But, after Serbian midfielder Nenad Milijas levelled with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area seven minutes later, Mancini’s men rolled over in pathetic fashion.’
Afterwards Mario would admit he found it hard going – but vowed that he would come good and show the potential that marked him down as one of the future greats of football. ‘It was difficult for me on Saturday because it was my first full game after all the injuries,’ Balotelli said before heading to Poland for the Europa League game with Poznan. ‘The tackles are harder and the referees don’t seem to blow very often for fouls – in Italy, when someone makes contact with you, it’s a foul, but that’s not the case in England.
‘It was my first game and it wasn’t easy for me because I need to get to know my team-mates on the pitch and understand their movement and that comes with time.
‘I want to be the best player in the world. It is good to have ambition. I’ve said in the past that I don’t care what other people want or expect of me because I know what I want, I will always give everything because I want to become the best. That is my aim and I am determined to make it happen. I am here at City to play Champions League football, that’s the competition I want to be in and that is what all the players here want to play in.’
Mancini was angry with all his big-name stars after such a dire showing – Mario included, although he did give his fellow Italian some leeway on account of him still recovering from that lengthy spell out on the sidelines injured. Roberto could be seen throwing off some of his clothes the angrier he became and he later admitted, ‘I took off my coat, scarf and tie because I was hot and because I was angry. I thought it was impossible for us to play like we did in the second half. The second half is the worst we have played since I came here. I have to speak to my players to try to understand why we played like this.
‘But if we can understand why we lost this game and we get back to playing like we did one week ago, then the season is very long – and everything can change in football.’
Mario would finally truly announce himself on the English stage just a week later when he started for City for the second time, away at West Brom. This time it would be a match he and the fans would never forget…for good and bad reasons! Balotelli would score both goals as the Blues won 2-0, but get sent off just after the hour mark. The Sun’s Steven Howard eloquently summed up the crazy scenario, saying, ‘Yesterday we had Mario Balotelli’s first league goals for City since his move from Inter Milan – scored in a seven-minute spell in the first half. The first came when he extended a telescopic leg – the left one on this occasion – to convert a Carlos Tevez cross at the far post in the 20th minute while the second saw him muscle Gabriel Tamas off the ball before shooting across Scott Carson.
‘Being Balotelli, though, it didn’t end there. The boy who came with a reputation of having an attitude problem – and loves nothing better than a pose, a pout or, preferably, a scowl for no good reason – couldn’t leave it at that. He had himself sent off in only his fourth game for the club. Yes, there was some sympathy for the hot-headed Italian since the incident with Youssouf Mulumbu that saw him dismissed in the 62nd minute was hardly worth a yellow card let alone the straight red produced by Lee Probert.
‘You can only imagine Probert thought Balotelli had followed his challenge with a boot in the prone Mulumbu’s stomach though TV evidence proved this not to be the case. Yet Balotelli was asking for trouble by getting involved in anything borderline 60 seconds after picking up a yellow for dissent after a comical attempt at winning a penalty.’
Mancini claimed the red was unwarranted but that didn’t stop him having a go at Mario for getting sent off as he walked from the pitch. He said, ‘I absolutely do not agree with the referee about this sending off. A red card for what? Mario played a fantastic game, he scored two goals, but the sending off was very strange.
‘I want to know why it was a direct red card. For me this is not correct and the referee must explain. I am angry because I explained to Mario before the game, pay attention with the referee. I wanted to change Adam Johnson for Mario but I didn’t have time to make the change.’
Roberto insisted that the club appeal against the sending off – but the FA refused to budge on the decision which meant that Mario would now miss out on the club’s next match…what would have been his first derby match against Manchester United…plus the visit of Birmingham and a trip to Fulham. An FA statement said: ‘At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim that the standard punishment is clearly excessive from Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli was dismissed. As a result, Balotelli will serve a three match suspension with immediate effect.’
Mario would now miss three weeks of football. It was an unsatisfactory situation: he had already been sidelined for two months with injury, now lack of discipline had cost him more time twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines. By the end of November 2010, he had been at City for 16 weeks but had been out of action for 11 weeks.
He made his comeback on 27 November in a difficult looking encounter at Stoke. The fans at the Britannia Stadium were among the most vocal in the Premier League and the team were known as ‘the dogs of war’ because of their physical approach: it was thus a high-profile return and Mancini told Mario he would have to be extra careful not to be riled by the crowd or the opposition. Roberto knew he would find it hard to defend his boy if he suffered another red card.
Micah Richards had put City ahead but Stoke denied them all three points when Matt Etherington equalised, much to the disappointment of Mancini who was celebrating his 46th birthday that Saturday.
Mario certainly did not appear to be in the mood for a tough battle. Appearing with a snood and gloves he looked as though he would rather be somewhere warmer and did not put in the shift the fans or his manager would have expected.
But Micah rushed to defend his new team-mate, saying, ‘It was hard for Mario. He probably hasn’t been anywhere like this before and the crowd were giving him some stick. He may have to get used to that, but technically he’s a genius. At places like this, defenders might want to smash him from behind, but I thought he coped well and there’s a lot more to come from him.
‘But this is probably the sort of place we need to come and win at if we’re serious about winning the title.’
I was told by a City source that, ‘Yes, Mario didn’t enjoy the trip to the Britannia. He was annoyed by the abuse he received from the Stoke crowd and struggled to get into the game. He was also a bit fearful of getting involved in any incidents that could lead to bookings or trouble with the ref. If you take away all his aggression and commitment, you don’t have the same player.’
It’s a fair comment. It is the same for the majority of footballing greats…or would-be greats like Mario. Even Lionel Messi has his moments of defiance and anger underneath that little-boy façade.
Yet the following Wednesday it would be a different Balotelli on show – the one who can cause chaos in any defence when he is in the mood – as he grabbed a brace against Salzburg to propel City into the last 32 of the Europa League. It was Mario who opened the scoring in the first half with a finely judged volley and he grabbed his second with an easy tap-in during the second half. A goal by Adam Johnson confirmed City’s arrival in the last 32.
Afterwards Mancini admitted he was happy with Balotelli’s brace but, ever the perfectionist, added that he still expected more from the boy – and that he should be demanding more of himself. Mancini said, ‘He’s a good striker but he must improve. He can play better than he did tonight. He’s always like this because it is normal for him to score. I am happy he scored but he can do more. He didn’t smile or celebrate, but he’s always like this. Maybe if he’d been fit for the season he could have got us an extra couple of points.
‘But I’m happy with qualification – we can now focus on the Premier League. We could have had a better result had we converted our three or four chances in the first half.’
The local paper, the Manchester Evening News, was left purring by Mario’s display and the whole enigmatic presence of the man, saying, ‘Balotelli plays his football as if he is having a lazy afternoon knock about with pals on one of the sunny beaches in his native Palermo.
‘His effortless style can sometimes be infuriating amid the rigours of English football, but on nights like this it just places him a class above the opposition – and most of his team-mates.
‘His goals helped to extend the Blues’ unbeaten run to six games, their best run since Roberto Mancini took the reins nearly a year ago.’
The Mail focused on the talent and box office appeal of Balotelli, saying, ‘A night that offered another fascinating insight into the enigmatic Italian. Balotelli is certainly good box office.’
That description enraged some football fans. One, Peter Giannis, of Cyprus, commented, ‘There is nothing fascinating, enigmatic or good box office about Balotelli. Just a dysfunctional, ill-mannered, attention seeking, astronomically paid petulant mercenary and to paint him otherwise is plain misleading! The real star last night that was pure box office and a joy to watch was…Adam Johnson! He scored a great individual goal and he actually celebrated it! He also happens to be English which can only be good for the England team.’
To which City fans naturally enough disagreed. One summed up the mood of the diehard Blues, pointing out, ‘Well he’s got your attention enough for you to actually take the time out to write a little letter about him?? He’s not your typical over the top celebrator of goals like some…’
That was the essence of Mario: he could infuriate or leave you drooling. You either loved him or hated him: there was no in-between, no grey area – always the characteristics one would associate with the great mavericks of the game over the years. Whether it be George Best, Paul Gascoigne or Eric Cantona.
Other City fans were eager to voice their delight at the devastation their maverick Italian had caused. One said, ‘Well now I’m more convinced than ever that Mancini is the man. I say that because he managed to talk a player like Mario Balotelli in to coming to play for us. This is just the start of things to come for Mario. He will turn into the world’s best player and we will bask in a blaze of glory because of it. I’m not over the top at all, I just know it.’
While another said, ‘I’ll go to bed a bit happier tonight having seen our largely second eleven ease to victory without finding third gear. How cool was Signor Mario Balotelli’s first! The more you see that goal the more it reveals about the kid - mentally he is clearly a few moves ahead of the other mere mortals around him which is where the calm comes from. He is going to be the terror of defences worldwide, I just can’t wait for the next game against the trotters. Blue Moon rising or what!’
And another added, ‘Balotelli…Showing the talent that makes him what he is already. World Class. Before he joined us he was already the hottest young property in Italy and now at last, in Britain we can see it for ourselves. We have a superstar. He can score goals for fun and it is very easy for him. Other deluded clubs talk about the talented kids they have. What a joke. This guy is the real deal.’
And another City fan predicted Balotelli would have Man United quaking come the next derby day encounter, ‘Balotelli…is pure class not just in his play but how he just makes the statement, “I will do it in my time not yours.” This lad knows how good he is and he gets a kick out of winding people up the wrong way – not just his own team-mates but other players and officials. He will get right under Sir Purple Nose’s skin for sure role on derby day!’
‘Mario was really pleased that the fans had finally caught a real glimpse of just what he could offer – and that they were delighted with him,’ I was told. ‘He hadn’t enjoyed the cold weather – as you could probably tell by his body language! – but the warmth of the fans and his team-mates made up for it all. He felt at home – that he had laid down something of a marker and that he could now build upon it. He really wanted to work on a relationship with the fans…that was what he missed out on at Internazionale. He is a player who needs to be loved – and the Salzburg match was, he hoped, the start of his love-in with the City supporters.’
It was the start of December, 2010, and Mario would now go on to make another five appearances before the New Year. He and City would win four of those five Premier League games – beating Bolton at home 1-0, West Ham away 3-1, Newcastle away 3-1 and Aston Villa at home 4-0. They would lose at home to Everton 2-1 in between the West Ham and Newcastle clashes.
Mario would not score in the first four games – he would play his part in the victories but would only earn two yellow cards (against West Ham and Newcastle) before the final match of the year at home to Villa.
But he would be the star of the show and snatch all the headlines as City saw out the old year with a stunning show – and he grabbed his first hat-trick for the club with a scintillating personal display. The win even sent City to the top of the league – although it was only temporary as neighbours United would regain top spot in a later game that day.
Mario’s opener was his first in the league at home for the club and relieved some of the pressure that seemed to have been building on him. With it being the festive season he had, naturally enough, been feeling slightly homesick – but the hat-trick and the good wishes of his new fans helped put the smile back on his face.
BBC Sport summed up his performance, saying, ‘Mario Balotelli scored a hat-trick as Manchester City secured an emphatic victory over out-of-form Aston Villa. Balotelli struck from the penalty spot after Eric Lichaj had fouled him before Joleon Lescott headed in City’s second. Balotelli tapped in a rebound before scoring with a second spot-kick after Marc Albrighton tripped Adam Johnson…The 20-year-old Italian had only mustered two Premier League goals prior to Tuesday’s contest but he showed that he can provide a potent alternative to Carlos Tevez, who was on the bench as he rested a sore hamstring, in the lone striker role.’
Afterwards Mancini admitted that Mario was suffering from being away from his family and friends at Christmas and New Year – but stressed he felt the boy would overcome the problem and that he wanted him to stay and become one of the best players on the planet. Mancini said: ‘Maybe he is homesick but I don’t think it’s a long-term problem. He is 20, has left his family for the first time – it’s normal to miss them. It is very important to keep him. He is a very good player and he can improve a lot. I think it is very important for the guys to help Mario. This season is a very important experience for him.
‘If he plays like he did today he can be one of the top players in Europe.’
Mario had scored eight goals in 11 games – a more than creditable return – but some pundits and fans were concerned that he rarely seemed to celebrate the goals. They felt it showed he was not committed to the club and the country, although Mario denied this. He said it was just his way – and Mancini backed up that claim, pointing out that he had rarely gone over the top when he scored for Inter.
Mario himself said, ‘I am happy even if journalists keep saying that I want to leave and go back to Milan. I am always happy, even when I don’t smile. I feel a striker has to score. It is my job. That is why I don’t smile.
‘I am here and I am working hard in training. I want to be an important man for this team and the results are on the pitch. We can win this championship. In the new year we can be better.’
City fans were certainly keen for Mario to stay and continue to prove himself after the show against Villa. One City fan said, ‘He is a very young and talented lad with a huge potential – which I hope Mancini can get him to build on. He has scored a hat-trick today which may have included two penalties - but that still takes bottle and he hasn’t got out of second gear!’
And even non Blues supporters were full of admiration for Mario’s show against Villa – and pointed out it was not that easy when you were adapting to life in a new country. One footie fan said, ‘Twenty years old in a different country without his family, of course he would be miserable and homesick. Eight goals already – I would take a miserable 20 year old like Balotelli anytime. Just imagine if he settles down over here in a year’s time or two. Those who are saying his attitude is terrible or are criticising him personally are obviously not aware of his circumstances.
‘I do not support any English team so am impartial. Balotelli is an incredibly talented footballer who has had to go through a hell of a lot in his short life. He was adopted and his relationship with his birth parents is positively toxic. He had to grow up with deplorable racist abuse when he played and had to cope with this complicated family situation all under the spotlight of being one of the most talented young footballers on the planet.
‘I wonder how those criticising him would have coped living abroad at 20 – on your own, being hounded in the Press and told you have an attitude problem. I think he’s coping remarkably well considering what he has been through. Dealing with fame and money at a very young age is difficult, and he clearly isn’t the most educated guy. Great player and I hope he is able to fulfil his talent - he’s had to be a fighter to get this far.’
And a Chelsea fan added, ‘He will be one of the best players in the world. I would have loved for him to join us. I have a lot of respect for Man City and I hope the fans enjoy the success that money will bring. Just brush off fans of other clubs that criticise the fact that success will arrive in this way. Who cares? I wish Abramovich would get spending again…’
It was a fair comment and Balotelli was certainly feeling less homesick, and more contented, after that hat-trick – his final act of his first half of his first season in England. Not a bad way to see out the old year – and see in the new. ‘Mario was much happier after that,’ I was told, ‘It settled him down, he had been pining to return home for Christmas and it had been very tough for him – he was, after all, a young lad away from his family – and at Christmas time. But now he was looking forward to the second half of the season. He knew the City fans loved him and that all he had to do was keep hitting the back of the net and things would continue to get better. Yes, that first hat-trick couldn’t have come at a better time…’
Now all he needed to do was keep up the good work in 2011.