Mario Balotelli, has one man commanded as many newspaper headlines as the Italian striker? More famous than his off the field activities, than delivering the goods on it in recent years, has the former Manchester City striker finally put the bad days behind him and got his football career on track?
There is little doubting the ability Balotelli possesses, from his early days in 2007, at Inter Milan, it was clear this was a player who had what it takes to make it at the top level. Goals against Juventus in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals announced him to the main stream Italian football fan and the following season, he became the youngest Inter player to score in the Champions League. However, it was in his second full season at the San Siro, when the problems began and Balotelli was excluded from the first team by Jose Mourinho and was also subject to continued racist chanting throughout the season. In 2009/10, Balotelli was openly criticised by Mourinho for his performance against Roma, suggesting he came close to a zero rating and received negative comments from veterans at the club, such as Javier Zanetti and Marco Materazzi. Following the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, Balotelli threw his shirt to the floor at the final whistle, as a response to his own fans, who booed him during the game.
However, despite all the problems, several Premier League teams were interested in the striker and he signed for Manchester City. Following injury, Balotelli scored his first goals in November but was also sent off, moments which perhaps sum up his career to date. The Italian was scoring goals for Manchester City but could not maintain his discipline and was sent off for the fourth time during the 2011/12 season, by which point, Roberto Mancini, his manager, had seen enough.
In 2013, Balotelli returned to Italy, this time to play for AC Milan and scored 26 goals in 43 appearances for the club, an excellent return before returning to the Premier League, with Liverpool. Many fans questioned Brendan Rodgers decision and they were right. Balotelli struggled and received criticism from his manager about swapping shirts before the end of the game and was suspended and fined £25,000 for posting an image on social media, which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references. Balotelli returned to Milan on loan but was sent back to Liverpool for the start of the 2016/17 season. On deadline day, Balotelli joined Nice, in the French Ligue 1 on a free transfer.
The result? Nice are top of the league after 9 games played and Balotelli is fine form, both on and off the pitch. So, what is it about Nice, which has brought out the best in the Italian? The two goals scored on debut against Marseille certainly helped but perhaps the feeling of being appreciated by the club and the fans, has helped the striker to believe he can realise his great potential. "The ranking of the teams where I felt good?" Balotelli said in an interview with Sky Sports Italia. "Nice, Manchester City and ... that’s it.”
A crucial turning point for Balotelli, in his short time at Nice, came when a red card was rescinded, after the referee admitted he made a mistake. For some, this would be a small triumph but for Balotelli, it means more than that. With 5 goals to his name already this season and his club top of the league, have Balotelli’s fortunes finally turned for the better? It’s going to be an interesting season on the French Riviera and with two Italian internationals coming up in November, will Balotelli feature for the Azzurri once more? Watch this space.