After Adana Demirspor’s 1-0 win over Umraniye in the Turkish Super Lig, coach Vincenzo Montella had to physically restrain himself from confronting his striker Mario Balotelli.
Istanbul: Mario Balotelli has a history of clashes with the coaches of the many clubs he has represented over the years.
Following Adana Demirspor’s 1-0 win over Umraniye in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday, the 31-year-old striker fought with coach Vincenzo Montella. Vincenzo Montella, extremely agitated, had to be forcefully restrained from assaulting Balotelli.
Balotelli appeared to say something to Montella as he walked away, prompting the coach to turn and rush at the striker, who was halted from engaging in a physical conflict by members of his staff.
It’s not the first time Balotelli has clashed with his managers.
Mario Balotelli got embroiled in a physical altercation with then-Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini on the training site in 2013. Even though he provided the league-winning assist in stoppage time for Sergio Aguero in 2012 when City overcame Queens Park Rangers 3-2 and pipped rivals Manchester United to the Premier League title on goal difference, the event effectively terminated Balotelli’s career.
Balotelli was dropped out of Brescia’s squad for a Serie A match against AS Roma in 2019 after an altercation with coach Fabio Grosso at the training facility.
Balotelli, formerly Italy’s central striker and the top scorer at Euro 2012, appeared to have lost his way last season in the country’s second-tier Serie B with Monza before joining newly-promoted Demirspor.
He last played for Italy in 2018 but was called up for a training camp earlier this year, sparking expectations that he will return to the Azzurri.
However, national team coach Roberto Mancini, who previously coached him at Inter Milan and Manchester City, did not include him in Italy’s World Cup playoff squad as the country crashed out and failed to qualify.
