Barwuah wants more!
Inter sensation Mario Balotelli is treading on thin ice after asking for a huge pay rise.
The 17-year-old broke into the first team this year with considerable aplomb, scoring three goals in 11 appearances.
Balotelli, an explosive striker of Ghanaian descent, earns £480,000 a season and is deemed central to Inter’s future.
His current deal runs out in 2010, but Balotelli believes he has proved his worth and deserves to be among the top earners at Via Durini.
The youngster’s representatives met with Inter directors this week and demanded a new contract of around £3.2m per annum.
The Nerazzurri believe the request to be a trifle excessive and will meet Balotelli’s agent again in the near future to resolve the situation.
Born in Palermo and adopted by a family in Brescia, Balotelli has spent his entire career with the Nerazzurri, working his way up through Inter’s youth ranks.
Meanwhile, Inter are believed to be close to signing Genoa’s versatile Frenchman Abdoulay Konko.
Coach Roberto Mancini wanted the former Juventus player in January, but had to settle with Maniche instead.
The 24-year-old can play in defence or midfield and made more appearances than any other Genoa player this season.
Inter will meet with officials from the Grifone on Monday to discuss Konko’s departure. (C4)
Crespo: No problems with Mario Balotelli
Hernan Crespo has no grudge against young Inter teammate Mario Balotelli.
“All that counts is that Inter do well. At this moment in time it doesn�t matter if a 17-year-old or a 40-year-old is leading the line, as long as we achieve our objectives.
“Clearly I would love to play and take centre stage, but I think the personal aspect has to be put to one side.” (tf)
Mihajlovic: Super Mario all-time great
Inter Milan No2 Sinisa Mihajlovic says Mario Balotelli has the potential be an “all-time great”.
“Last year when he came with the senior team for pre-season training you could see straight away what he was made of,” Mihajlovic told Sky Italia television.
“If he carries on improving like this, day after day, he could become one of the all-time greats. I always tell him to relax, as he mustn’t be afraid of anyone or anything.” (tf)
Confident staying grounded
Inter Milan superkid Mario Balotelli is confident he will stay grounded, despite the hype swirling around him.
The 17 year-old said: “I know there are true friends and people who are only worried about me when I am doing well. The popularity is beautiful but it wouldn’t mean a lot without my family and friends.”
Asked about the influence of the coaches at Inter, Balotelli added: “The advice from Roberto Mancini and Sinisa Mihajlovic is fundamental to grow, but I try to learn something from the players and all the attackers playing at Inter.” (tf)
Balotelli mad
Inter teen star Mario Balotelli is furious that legal red tape has prevented him representing Italy at this summer’s Olympics.
The 17-year-old has been one of the revelations of the season and is seen as one of the peninsula’s most exciting prospects.
However, despite being born in Palermo, Balotelli isn’t able to become an Italian citizen until his 18th birthday on August 12, which is too late for him to be registered for the Olympic Games in China.
The Italian court has been really strict with its maturity law following numerous reported cases of minors taking part in international sports activities particularly poker and billiards - games whose players are very hard to pin down and profile.
The problems have arise because he is the son of Ghanaian immigrants and has never been officially adopted by the Balotelli family, who were given custody of him by the courts when he was just three.
“The Italian law is unjust and needs to be changed,” the former Lumezzane man raged to the Corriere dello Sport. “I feel like a Second Division citizen.”
Balotelli has already snubbed the chance to represent Ghana because he wants to follow his Azzurri dream.
“Even having been born here, I am still not being recognised as a citizen and I find that to be enormously unjust,” he continued.
“I have turned down an invitation to play for Ghana because I want to wear the Azzurri shirt.
“The reason I did so is because I was born in Italy and I have always lived there, so I feel like an Italian.” (C4)