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Super Mario?

Originally posted 2nd April on live4footy.com



Yet again, Mario Balotelli has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Mancini has confessed that he almost substituted him after only 5 minutes. 

During this weekends draw with Sunderland even the crowd seemed to turn on him for his moody, petulant display.This is a worrying change of events for Mario as until now he has been a firm favourite.

Previously, when Inter defeated Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final it was a cause for huge celebration for the Nerazzurri fans and Inter players alike. Except Balotelli, that is. The moody striker instead ripped off his shirt and threw it at the fans in disgust for their reaction to his disinterested display during the game. So this is not a one off.

However, we think the City faithful are wrong to fall out of love with Mario.Not least for the fact that he has been a very potent striker for them this season. Only Dzeko and Aguero have scored more in the league and Mario's strike rate to games played is as good as Sergio's.Mario may be part idiot, part genius but that's a good thing. 

For a long time football has been robbed of true characters and when we are faced with one now it all seems too much. The clowns, the mavericks and the flawed geniuses are being airbrushed out of our game. As football has become more about athleticism: skill, flamboyance and risk taking have all but disappeared. Moments of playfulness, joy and yes idiocy are few and far between. winning at all cost is the only goal and football is poorer for it.We applaud the winger who dutifully tracks back and the midfielder who works box to box but that's not what sets our heart racing.

We yearn for a nutmeg, sublime skill and a overhead kick.

We yearn for players like Gazza, Dicanio, Cantona and yes Balotelli.



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