The Fantabulous Adventures of Mario Balotelli

[Starvinho]

Mario Balotelli subjected to rotting fish in Maserati prank by Man City boys

Mario Balotelli's Manchester City team-mates gave the prank-loving striker a distinctly fishy taste of his own medicine by planting a bag filled with kippers behind the front seat of his fancy Maserati. He discovered it a fortnight later...

The controversy-courting Italian's own ire-inducing antics during the year have included throwing darts at youth team players because he was 'bored'; winding up midfielder Yaya Toure on the team's Carrington training ground - not to mention the £10,000 of parking fines that prompted manager Roberto Mancini to throw a suitcase at him.

But now his City team-mates have got their own back on the 20-year-old before they headed across the Atlantic on a two-week tour, with the kippers creating a right stench in his plush set of wheels.

A mole told The Sun that, upon returning to England last week and discovering what had happened, Balotelli 'had his head in his hands'.

'The smell really made him sick. It was revolting,' said the source.

'There were flies in the car and the leather seats in the back had rotting fish all over them.'

Balotelli's pricey white motor is expected to be an insurance write-off because of the fishy stench of its upholstery, but the striker is already plotting his revenge, apparently.

'He has absolutely no idea who is responsible as he has wound up so many of his team-mates over the past year,' the insider added.

'It won't put an end to the pranks, though. He's already formulating more plans.'

It'll be interesting to see what he does to get them back, he'll probably end up taking it too far though in typical Balotelli fashion!

[Lineker]

He'll probably take it too far once again.

I, for one, expect him to shit in Gareth Barry's cereal.

[Dynamite]

If he throws darts at people when he's bored, imagine what he'll throw at people when he's angry!

[King Ellis]

I think we're talking Dream Team style repercussions here.

[Lineker]

Oh shit, we need to do a Harchester naming trend at some point, too.

[DavidMarrio]

I think we're talking Dream Team style repercussions here.

What you mean he's going to make the team coach crash killing half the squad? Thats what seemed to happen to Harchester United like every season

[Lineker]

Anti-mafia investigators in Italy want to interview Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli over a visit he made to a known mafia hot spot in Naples.

Prosecutors say they want to interview him over possible contacts he may have had unwittingly with the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra, last year.

The move is part of a wider investigation into money laundering.

There is no suggestion Balotelli has committed any crime. He says he is very relaxed about answering any questions.

The investigators' approach comes after Balotelli was photographed in the company of a couple of known Camorra gangsters as he toured one of the most deprived, violent and crime-ridden parts of Naples.

Earlier this week Balotelli was given a hero's welcome when he visited a prison in Florence with other members of the Italy squad.

Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents - but adopted by an Italian family when he was still a child - he is one of the very few black players to have pulled on the famous blue shirt of the Italian national team.

Throughout his playing career in Italy he was consistently the target of racist abuse by a minority of fans.

He is not the first footballer to mingle with the mob.

Arguably the greatest player of all - the Argentinian, Diego Maradona - was well-known for his allegedly close relationship with several Camorra godfathers during his time playing for Napoli in the 1980s.

[Baddar]

Wasn't there something the other day about him being named on the bench for the national team, but he took his iPad there and was fucking around on it the whole time?

[GoGo Yubari]

Yup;

Manchester City's repeat offender was on duty for Italy's Euro 2012 match against the Faroe Islands last Friday, but when he didn't get a starting spot apparently decided a game of Angry Birds or an update of his Facebook page would be a great way to kill time.

Balotelli played the final six minutes of the match and contributed little to the game, but team manager Luigi Riva moved quickly to deny there was a rift after the final whistle.

'Let's not create a problem where there is none,' Riva said after the 1-0 victory.

'He only played a few minutes against the Faroe Islands so he couldn't do much.

'But in every training, Mario gives his best.'

In March, Balotelli was dropped by the Italian national team after he fell foul of coach Cesare Prandelli's strict rules on discipline.

It came after Balotelli was sent off for City during the Europa League match against Dynamo Kyiv for a challenge on defender Goran Popov.

Legend.

[IAceI]

Now he's mixing with the Mafia

Anti-mafia investigators in Italy want to interview Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli over a visit he made to a known mafia hot spot in Naples.

Prosecutors say they want to interview him over possible contacts he may have had unwittingly with the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra, last year.

The move is part of a wider investigation into money laundering.

There is no suggestion Balotelli has committed any crime. He says he is very relaxed about answering any questions.

The investigators' approach comes after Balotelli was photographed in the company of a couple of known Camorra gangsters as he toured one of the most deprived, violent and crime-ridden parts of Naples.

Earlier this week Balotelli was given a hero's welcome when he visited a prison in Florence with other members of the Italy squad.

Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents - but adopted by an Italian family when he was still a child - he is one of the very few black players to have pulled on the famous blue shirt of the Italian national team.

Throughout his playing career in Italy he was consistently the target of racist abuse by a minority of fans.

He is not the first footballer to mingle with the mob.

Arguably the greatest player of all - the Argentinian, Diego Maradona - was well-known for his allegedly close relationship with several Camorra godfathers during his time playing for Napoli in the 1980s.

[Cheeky Hughes]

Never change, Mario.

[9 to 5]

He was just doing that an hour ago.

[Lineker]

Learn to read Ace!

[IAceI]

k.

[Dan]

Quality.

Althought I don't think it's real.

Edited September 29, 2011 by McDanlad's

[GoGo Yubari]

Yeah, reads like a parody Twitter account to me. Still funny, though.

[Matt]

It's definitely not real, but it is awesome nonetheless.

[Berober]

Mario Balotelli's house set on fire as he shoots fireworks from window

Mario Balotelli's remarkable capacity for self-inflicted problems resurfaced on the eve of the Manchester derby when he had to escape from his burning house after a fire caused by letting off fireworks in the bathroom in the early hours of Saturday morning.Balotelli escaped unhurt but will be summoned to see Roberto Mancini to explain the latest moment of madness in his chequered career. City have been contacted by the fire service and Mancini will want to know what Balotelli was doing putting himself in such a position before their biggest match of the season.

Two fire crews using breathing apparatus put out the flames after being called to Balotelli's house just before 1am on Saturday to deal with what has been described as "a substantial fire" on the first floor. The property, in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, sustained serious fire and smoke damage and the police were also called – in part to ensure Balotelli did not go back into the house. The striker is said to have been reluctant to leave his belongings and, at one point, to have run back inside to recover a quantity of money and a suitcase.

A police spokesman said: "At just before 1am on Saturday we were called to a report of a house fire at a residential home in Mottram St Andrew. Police provided assistance to Cheshire fire and rescue service as well as ensuring residents were accounted for and there was no danger to surrounding properties. At this time, the cause of the fire is being examined by fire investigators and the police. However, it is not thought to be suspicious."

Balotelli checked into a Manchester hotel and took part in training as normal at 10am. He has told club officials he and four friends were setting off fireworks through an open window. The bathroom towels set on fire and the blaze quickly spread. Balotelli has claimed that one of his friends had set off the firework. That, however, is unlikely to spare the player a reprimand from Mancini and a reminder that City's management staff would have expected him to be asleep at that time rather than exposing himself to the possibility of serious injury.

A statement from the fire service said: "Four breathing apparatus and two hose reel water jets were used to deal with the fire and a large fan was used to clear the smoke from the property. Crews managed to put out the fire within half an hour of arriving but remained at the scene until 2.45 am to prevent any possible flare-ups. Smoke alarms were fitted at the property and the occupiers were able to get out unharmed. The fire was caused by a firework."

The incident comes at a bad time for Balotelli after Mancini's recent statements about noticing a "big improvement" in the player's behaviour. Balotelli has scored in his last four games and a major part of City's pre-derby training has been set up around him getting behind United's defence.

Mancini said on Friday that he hoped Balotelli was "changing his mentality" and putting behind him the controversies that have accompanied him since he signed from Internazionale for £25m last year.

Balotelli has established himself as one of the more controversial figures in English football, his list of misdemeanours including an internal investigation after he was seen throwing darts at youth-team players.

Balotelli was substituted in the first half of a pre-season match in Los Angeles after he was given a simple chance to score and tried to back-heel the ball into the net, missing the target entirely. Yet he insisted in an interview in the past few days that he was growing up and would steer clear of controversy before, during and after the derby.

He has recently moved from Manchester city centre and said he was living in the countryside for a quieter life.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/22/mario-balotelli-house-fire-fireworks

Never a dull moment...

[Liam]

Was just about to stick this up there. Gotta love the guy, he is just mental.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

At least Balotelli doesn't refuse to come on as a sub.