MARIO BALOTELLI has answered to his critics after Italy’s World Cup exit, while Adriano Galliani also offered support.
Italy did not expect to get knocked out of the World Cup after just three goals for the second time in a row but reality was cruel for them. Mattia De Sciglio, Ignazio Abate and Mario Balotelli will all be returning to Italy soon after a bad campaign.
Balotelli, and Italy, showed plenty of promise against England with Mario scoring the winner but against Costa Rica and Uruguay it was just not it and the Azzurri lost both games. Italy, and especially Balotelli, are facing a lot of criticism today.
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When the entire squad was waiting for Cesare Prandelli in the locker room after he announced his resignation, Balotelli was on the bus alone. Daniele De Rossi said “Italy needs men, not Panini characters”, most likely referring to Balotelli and Gianluigi Buffon also had something to say about the behaviour of the Milan striker, who hit back today on social media.
Balo posted this on his Instagram account: “I am Mario Balotelli, I’m 23 years old and I did not choose to be Italian. I wanted it strongly because I was born in Italy and I’ve always lived in Italy. I was hoping for a lot from this World Cup and I am sad, angry and disappointed with myself. Yes, maybe I could have scored a goal against Costa Rica, you’re right, but then what? What is the problem after that? Maybe that’s what you all wanted to say? Don’t blame it all on me this time because Mario Balotelli have given everything for the national team and has done nothing wrong on a personal level.
“So go and look for another excuse because Mario Balotelli has his conscience in place and is ready to move forward stronger than before, with his head high. He is proud to have given everything for his country. Or maybe, as you say, I am not Italian. The Africans would never heap everything on one of their ‘brothers’. Never. In this sense us blacks, as you call us, are light-years ahead. Shame isn’t that you can miss a goal or run more or less. Shame is those things [I’ve mentioned].”
It’s clear that Balotelli is hurt by the heavy criticism and the Rossoneri Vice President Adriano Galliani offered his support while attending the League’s assembly: “I don’t understand why Balotelli is the only one who’s being criticized. He’s the only striker that scored a goal and created chances. It looks like Italy wasn’t eliminated from the World Cup, but only Balotelli. Evidently, he’s the only quality player of the national team because he’s the only one that is being discussed.
“Buffon and De Rossi? They are not Milan’s player and I don’t want to say what I think. I reaffirm that Mario is the only one who scored, the others were nowhere to be seen.” It remains to be seen if Balotelli will stay at Milan for next season.
galliani my man,im actually beginning you have a brain in that head of yours
bla bla bla…
the others were afwul as well, but u were poor Balo…
u dont have the head to be a top player, and never will, sorry..
the coach cant count on u, and had to sub u out when it was not the best option…
Hope that we sell u, and buy a player that works for the team..
so bad to see a great potencial wasted with a poor head
Common give him a break! only because of his great potential and nervous behavior people misjudging his performances if Kaka plays bad oh that’s ok it happens but when Ballo plays bad then trow sticks and stones on him….He can be great but we still waiting for that…
No, you “common” and open your eyes. When he was playing for Inter everybody said he has great potential. Five years after everybody still says he has great potential. With his attitude on the pitch (won’t repeat myself which aspects) we won’t live to that day when he finally proves his potential. I am a long life Milan fan, but it doesn’t mean I have to praise all our stars. I really grown tired of Balo, and call me stupid, but I appreciate Pazzo’s work rate and attitude more. And about Kaka it’s whole different story, but of course at… Read more »
Marchisio scored as well….
“only striker”
I am pretty sure Pirlo covered more ground than Balotelli did in the first-half. So how is a 23 years-old losing out to a 36 years-old on that aspect?
That 36 year old is a midfielder it’s his duty to run a lot. Come on bra, you even know football?
He has a point – Balo is lazy and doesn’t want to run. He thinks he is the best and in reality, hasn’t really won anything in his career.. He is 23 and should run, run and run some more…
So, you’re saying that even though he played up front as a lone striker, he should leave his position in order to prove that he can cover more area?
De Rossi himself was extremely poor against Costa Rica, so he`s not one to speak. Ballotelli and Immobille were not supported that well by the team either, which makes sense because they did not really need to score. The entire team was obviously playing for a draw, and then, when they lose the blame Ballotelli for not scoring. That`s not fair. Besides, Immobile wasn`t any better than Balo, he may have tried harder, but he obviously wasn`t capable of much. I think the criticism on Ballotelli is the main reason why he underperforms so often. It needs to stop, leave… Read more »
Pirlo is a midfielder. He’s supposed to cover more ground. Especially since every time Balo enters midfield another person screams for him to stay in the box.
Balo is complete right in everything he said.
He should have scored more obviously, but he’s one player out of 11+the bench.
De Rossi and Buffon are hypocrites.
Amazingly enough, Galliani actually made sense for once. Good on him.
JustMilan, he specified “only striker”…
Balotelli You’re not to blame for Italy poor showing.You did your absolute best.
DE ROSSI CAN GO KICK ROCKS!!!
this is a TEAM sport ONE player does not WIN or LOSE a game on his own.
Sitting on the bus alone like a big spoilt child and that’s exactly what he is, he Carry’s on like that week in week out, he was taken off in Italy’s last game before he was sent off as usual and he blames everyone else as if that’s a surprise and then says it’s because of the colour of his skin that he’s treated like this! For f*** sake man grow up your treated exactly how a spoilt child should be
Maybe he’s right. He’s not the only one to blame. But i disagree he gave everything. Same like in milan, he was focus more in getting freekicks, diving aimlessly n fouling players unnecessarily. That is why prandelli sub him. Coz he risk gettin red carded. I have lost faith in him since last season. I hope we sell him, we need strikers that play for the team n have heart. Sorry to say balo is not.
As a Milan supporter, I cheered for Italy in the World Cup. However, I honestly felt like Uruguay deserved to go to the next round, but not sure about Costa Rica. When I was watching the game, I felt like Italy needs more creative players like Pirlo, Veratti. Honestly, I don’t think Balotelli did enough for the team. Of course he tried, but nobody sang a song for the captain of titanic when it sank in Atlantic. Same goes for Balotelli. Italy needed El Sharaawy more than Balotelli. And Immobile and Balotelli aren’t a good striking pair. They have lack… Read more »
And when he was substituted in the 2nd half(46 mins),why didn’t Immobile and other 9 players score goals?,they still have 45mins+extra time to score and De Rossi and Buffon were blaming Balotelli.They expect him to score in every minute and every match maybe because the opponent are not playing with a goal keeper and defenders,they should have blamed Marchisio and Prandelli for switching to a Juventus formation with Juventus defenders that failed with that formation in Europe. Immobile who’s said by many people is better than Mario should have scored in the 2nd half,In other teams 1 person is n’t… Read more »
u must be really stupid to think this is racism…
And the so called Serie A highest goal scorer who is deemed by many of you is better than Balotelli didn’t score or make an attempt or win the match for the Azurri after playing for 90mins and some guys blame a guy that played for just 45 mins.
#saynotoracism
Italy lost the two games pirlo played as A̶̲̥̅̊ regista. There was no creativity in the mid field, and that’s why they lost.
I would like to say that I for one don’t blame Balotilli,, I actually blame Prandelli for this mess.. On a different note, I also blame Milan for Balotilli’s form dip and here is how I see it: I will start with Prandilli whom to begin with only took 2 young CFs without some mature backups to use when things get nasty (i.e. Gilardino or Pazzini or Osvaldo, “Destro” or even Amauri!!), hence, waaay too much presure on Balotilli considering that he is more “internationally mature” next to Immobile who imo, still needs way much more to play at such… Read more »
This is a book…. 0_0
Balo needs a team thats support him the italy midfield was nonexisting especially pirlo was poor. Balo will be best as a winger or support striker
Aww and I would like to also blame the idiot marchisio and the crazy ref.. Although imo, his tackle did not deserve a red card, it was an unnecessary cheap shot
Thumbs up,baldy!For once you spoke well.
And for italy,you dont put the blame of an entire team’s failure on a single player.After all,he is not the only player,is he?what happened to the legs of the other guys?Or is mario also responsible for them?
Italy should take it the way spain did(they didn’t blame costa for their exit).They played as a team and failed as one without pointing fingers at each other.
I am really happy Mario purged out his feelings and hope he stays out of the Italian squad. How on earth would De Rossi, a player who equally had an awful tournament come out and attack Mario?, Mario defended Buffon when he made mistakes in one of their qualifiers but they all turned against him and you expect him to sit in the bus with them? Mario isn’t a baby, he knows what he’s doing and reads what goes on around him, you may think he’s stupid but he’s intelligent. I’m happy he’s staying with us, after few games, the… Read more »
@ gaushow,thank you very very much for calling me stupid.God bless you.
Italy perfomance in this worldcup Defend > Pass the ball to Pirlo > Since he’s the “perfect” midfielder, he’ll give a glorious pass to Balo > Balo recieves the ball, but he’s alone in the box, and OBVIOUSLY can’t hold off 4 defenders on his own. That’s what I saw from Italy this WC, instead of passing it around and break the enemy’s lines, they only relied on Pirlo and Balotelli, expecting they would be the national heros, Balotelli needs to play with a good striker that know where to be at and how to play with him, no with… Read more »
Last time I checked there were 11 players on the field not 1. If you want someone to blame start with Chiellini and his Juventus teamatse Marchisio and Bargzali. Just showed Juve can dominate Serie A but can’t play outside of Italy.
It’s always easy to blame the colored man,These people will never accept you as one of their own.You should have played for Ghana your ancestral home,where they would have given you lots of love
Waaoooo! Balotelli everywhere 1stly, Thank u everybody for standing strong for balotelli, in a gave of football, goalkeeper is there on the field to stop everybody that is going inside the net…..I will blame buffon for not doing his job perfectly…… Also the defenders (buffon need to give the youth space) de rossi….. Work is to stop opponent from penetrating into the box of his team and win the ball(how many time did De rossi himself won the ball back?) That mean he failed to do his job,with pirlo not given a good pass. The lack of some qualities are… Read more »
Even though I’m for selling Balo in exchange for other good players as of the moment he is still a milan player and like every other milan player I’ll show my support for him, juvetus players need to learn how to run and not play walking pace you just can’t do that against South Americans who play at a high tempo
Veratti was the only stand out in midfield,and prandelli made mistakes by not playing cerci and not taking Rossi
It is mad to only blame balotelli. It is prandelli’s fault, he letted him alone in attack. Italy is a great and strong team but they did not believe in their chance and they feared a team like costa rica. The players didn’t know what to do in the pitch.
It’s good that Balo spoke his mind, like everyone here says, it’s ridiculous to put the blame on him. A lot of player underperformed, only one who stood out was Darmian. Balo was “fantastic” against England, got the highest grade, and now when Italy are eliminated it’s all his fault? It’s the same story as with Milan… “when Milan wins, bravo Mario, when Milan looses it’s because of me” I personally thought more of Italy, and thought that it was filled with several star players other than Balo, perhaps I’m wrong and the Italian people only put their faith and… Read more »
man this guy have big regreat for choosen italia over our beloved nation africa
u can have him back..
go live in sierra leoa
Don’t be a racist man!
Iam is a milan fan..just a milan fan, not an italy fan where almost every game in their league they do racist!!, and iam not ballo fans at all. But in this case, italy case is the same as milan nowaday case..very similiar. Milan wanted ballo to be hero,when elsha is a true milan hero,they don’t see them self in the mirror who is the coach in the back of the team, and wanted ballo to be a hero with support of mediocre player. That’s was a shame, now italy do this like milan did, blame it all to ballo… Read more »
Milan never blames Balo when the team is faltering, it’s Boban and other critics. And Balo did well at City, the problem at City was that he wasn’t always a starter. Wasn’t always a starter and despite of that scored 14 goals in one season, as many as he did in his first full season as a starter, even though he was injured, suspended at times and played in a dysfunctional team.
Let him play consistently with quality players surrounding him (at Milan that is) and people will see what he can do.
man to be honest balo didnt play anything in those last 2 matches and if am to be vote for him to stay or leave at milan i will vote out
I think the italian media and press have gone over the line when its about Balotelli. We all know that when Balotelli plays with a team that play good, then he play good, but if the team play like shit, then he going to act like shit. Whats irritating me when thinking about Balotelli is, instead of falling down easily by everything just to get the easy way out by a free-kick/penalty, he should use his strenght to get pass his opponents, boy got a lot of strenght. But people should rather give critics to Marchisio when he lifted his… Read more »
Mario should stay at Milan and hes not the only one to be blamed for Italy exist but i think he deserves some slapin. Awful attitude throughout from Tuesday to this mornings arrival from Brazil.
Did anyone see him in the last two matches ? I didn’t think he played.
When milan and Italy win, balotelli was great. When milan an dirty lose, balotelli is a complete failure. Many people have said it perfect. Italians are the biggest critics. We’re the only nationality that I know of where we criticize italy and it’s like the team has to win over the fans. U look at teams like Ghana and Costa Rica. Their fans are behind the team regardless of what happen and make their voices heard. Us Italians both for italy and especially milan will not support their team because they think the team has to win them over and… Read more »
The background informarion to what happened just came out. Apparently, Buffon and De Rossi at half time had told Prandelli to substitute Mario but instead, Prandelli called Mario and told him in the dressing “You are too tense and not doing the things we practiced in training. I’ll give you five minutes to show me you’re with us, otherwise I’m substituting you.” Balotelli reacted with irritation and continued to complain, insisting he was fine, but after twice being told to be quiet, Prandelli lost his patience and substituted him with Parrolo. Prandelli got instigated by Buffon and De Rossi and… Read more »
lol and somebody’s suppose to believe that sad story ? He vanished,like he vanishes in the Milan jersey,those are the facts. He’s arrogant,selfish,stubborn and mental;y unstable on the pitch.
If their is anyone here that is mentally unstable, that should be u @Milan fan. If u don’t have better things to say why not just keep shut, u will fill better that way. Am really disappointed in Buffon and De Rossi
please get Pato back and ditch Mario! We all love Pato!
-Mario will remain at ACMilan.
balo like they feel u is akon awa if i was u i wasnt takeing ne blame either
why didn’t anybody blame the defenders + goalie for conceeding those goals vs CRC and URU?
I recall that Italy were famous for their defensive prowess, especially the legendary “uno-zero” tactic..
What a legend is Buffon with most international caps and most of his club-teammates unable to keep CRC (who plays with 1 striker) at bay?
De Rossi? why does “men” have to hide his left arm tattoo on the pitch.. Superstition? Unappropriate picture? or maybe just style?
Well at least Prandelli is a man.
cant believe eeven milanistas are hating on balotelli…oh De Rossi was able to talk, wat significant thing did he do during the tournament…i can recall the only match Italy won, Buffon wasnt in goal…hw come its all balotelli…Prandelli chose more of the Juve players and watz the end result???? Italy is not going through so is Spain, portugal, England, Croatia, Russsia, and many others and so watz the big deal…it only proves they havnt grown from 2006. let them go back and think of the best way to get out of this…Im in support of Balotelli not because he was… Read more »
4 me,1stly i will criticize prandelli’s tactis of not playin pacy wingers inlieu of usin full-backs 2 cover those roles.chiellini is 1 player i knw dat is slow even bonucci.d fact dat balo underperformed does not mean he’s @ fault & dat goes back 2 d old question of ”where was d odas” includin d person dat subbed him.i believe dat wen u sub a star player u should aswel hav a gud replacement 4 him.had prandelli took Els along 2 & pair cerci on d flanks with balo up front,i would be sorry 4 opposin teams but unfortunately Els… Read more »