Let me go home! Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli homesick for Italy and doesn't like England
Mario Balotelli’s increasing struggles at Manchester City are being underpinned by chronic homesickness and a dislike of life in England.
Balotelli was not in the starting 11 for the Boxing Day win at Newcastle and is far from certain of making Roberto Mancini’s team for the visit of Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League today.
Sources close to him revealed yesterday that the former Inter Milan star is finding it painfully hard to settle in to a new country and is struggling to form any close friendships in England.
Indeed, he has already told friends in Italy that he simply wants to move back home. At City, Mancini and his staff continue to work hard with Balotelli, 20, and still believe his exceptional talent can be coaxed to the surface if he is handled the right way.
Certainly, there is no way they would sanction a move home, just five months after signing him for £24million.
However, those close to the striker last night told of a deeply unhappy and troubled young man who is already convinced that his high-profile move is not going to work out.
Father figure: Mancini thinks his relationship with Balotelli will help get the best out of him
He has told friends he understands the potential for success and development at City is there and he appreciates the chance to work with Mancini.
Indeed, Balotelli spent time working one-on-one with him after training yesterday. Away from the field, though, he has spoken of being miserable and it is obvious this is affecting his football.
Despite the obvious talent that persuaded Mancini to pay so much for him in the summer, Balotelli has shocked City fans with his bizarre behaviour. In the 10 appearances he has made this season, the Italy striker has scored five goals but has picked up as many cards — four yellows and a red.
At Newcastle on Boxing Day, for example, he only appeared as a substitute with five minutes remaining and still managed to get booked.
He then had to be publicly told by Mancini to applaud City’s travelling fans at the end of the game. And earlier this season, Balotelli scored two goals in a Premier League game at West Bromwich Albion but was then sent off for picking up two bookings. City will not give up on him.
Mancini worked hard to bring Balotelli to Eastlands during protracted negotiations and believes he can get the best out of him as he did when he managed him at the San Siro.
Having seen the striker fail to get on with last season’s Inter coach Jose Mourinho, Mancini believed he could use his own relationship with Balotelli to positive effect. Perhaps what he didn’t expect was to see the striker fail to adapt to life outside Italy.
Comments attributed to Balotelli in Italy seem to offer conflicting views of his state of mind. But it is known he returns home to Milan whenever he can, sometimes going to extreme lengths to get there for fleeting visits.
He may not start, but Balotelli will certainly be in Mancini’s squad to take on Villa today.
The City manager knows that on his day he can bring things to the Premier League’ s second-placed team that no other player is capable of.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...telli-homesick-Italy-doesnt-like-England.html
Mario Balotelli’s increasing struggles at Manchester City are being underpinned by chronic homesickness and a dislike of life in England.
Balotelli was not in the starting 11 for the Boxing Day win at Newcastle and is far from certain of making Roberto Mancini’s team for the visit of Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League today.
Sources close to him revealed yesterday that the former Inter Milan star is finding it painfully hard to settle in to a new country and is struggling to form any close friendships in England.
Indeed, he has already told friends in Italy that he simply wants to move back home. At City, Mancini and his staff continue to work hard with Balotelli, 20, and still believe his exceptional talent can be coaxed to the surface if he is handled the right way.
Certainly, there is no way they would sanction a move home, just five months after signing him for £24million.
However, those close to the striker last night told of a deeply unhappy and troubled young man who is already convinced that his high-profile move is not going to work out.
Father figure: Mancini thinks his relationship with Balotelli will help get the best out of him
He has told friends he understands the potential for success and development at City is there and he appreciates the chance to work with Mancini.
Indeed, Balotelli spent time working one-on-one with him after training yesterday. Away from the field, though, he has spoken of being miserable and it is obvious this is affecting his football.
Despite the obvious talent that persuaded Mancini to pay so much for him in the summer, Balotelli has shocked City fans with his bizarre behaviour. In the 10 appearances he has made this season, the Italy striker has scored five goals but has picked up as many cards — four yellows and a red.
At Newcastle on Boxing Day, for example, he only appeared as a substitute with five minutes remaining and still managed to get booked.
He then had to be publicly told by Mancini to applaud City’s travelling fans at the end of the game. And earlier this season, Balotelli scored two goals in a Premier League game at West Bromwich Albion but was then sent off for picking up two bookings. City will not give up on him.
Mancini worked hard to bring Balotelli to Eastlands during protracted negotiations and believes he can get the best out of him as he did when he managed him at the San Siro.
Having seen the striker fail to get on with last season’s Inter coach Jose Mourinho, Mancini believed he could use his own relationship with Balotelli to positive effect. Perhaps what he didn’t expect was to see the striker fail to adapt to life outside Italy.
Comments attributed to Balotelli in Italy seem to offer conflicting views of his state of mind. But it is known he returns home to Milan whenever he can, sometimes going to extreme lengths to get there for fleeting visits.
He may not start, but Balotelli will certainly be in Mancini’s squad to take on Villa today.
The City manager knows that on his day he can bring things to the Premier League’ s second-placed team that no other player is capable of.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...telli-homesick-Italy-doesnt-like-England.html
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