Is He Really “SuperMario?”
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has come out publicly criticising his striker Mario Balotelli. Fed up with the player’s arrogance, Inter’s Head Coach has decided enough is enough. If Balotelli wants to live up to his potential, he has to change.
At just 18 years of age, Palermo born Balotelli is already talked about as being one of the biggest up and coming talents in football. This season, the player they nick-named “SuperMario” has been used largely as a bit part player and has found his chances under the guidance of Jose Mourinho limited. In 13 Serie A games he has either started and been substituted or come on as a replacement.
Mourinho himself has made his feelings about Balotelli clear. He is unhappy with the youngsters attitude, even in training where he should be doing all he can to show the manager he is worthy of a first team position he has failed to impress;
“Nothing has changed. Neither the way Balotelli works nor his attitude.”
He added that his effort in training was 25%. If he was at 50% he would be one of the best players in the world.
It wasn’t just in training that Balotelli was letting himself down. Mourinho told the press that the atmosphere he creates around the squad is negative;
“I don’t like what he is currently bringing to the team and the way he works during the week. It’s not the right attitude for a young player who needs to arrive… He lacks concentration and motivations. He must change. Continuing like this in this team he will lose opportunities.”
It seems fair to assume that the young Italian thinks more highly of himself than he has reason to.
Rarely in professional football do you see a manager blast their own players so openly but perhaps Mourinho feels this is his last option, what he has to do in order to spark a reaction out of Balotelli. On the other hand, such comments could spell the end for Balotelli at Inter Milan. Chelsea, Fiorentina, Arsenal and Liverpool are all interested in the talents of the youngster but should the player move on, the transfer that looks the most likely is Sampdoria, whose midfielder Palombo is wanted by Mourinho.
The signs for Balotelli are worrying. If he cannot perform for a manager like Mourinho, a man who has proven himself in the game, then you would have to wonder who he would change his attitude for. It is a certainty that there is not a manager who would put up with such behaviour.
