The Doc’s Prescription - Bye Bye Mario

(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

By Tony O’Doherty
Published on 07/02/2013 08:52

To a large extent I have resisted writing about Mario Balotelli because, for me, he has been a complete waste of time and money.

Maybe he’s one of those players that people rave about because of their training ground exploits but, on the field of play he just didn’t do it at Manchester City.

“Sky Blues” fans will be left with very few football memories but a host of off-the-field blunders and embarrassments.

Roberto Mancini himself summed up Balotelli when he said: “I have seen players like Mario with fantastic ability but they did nothing in the game. I wouldn’t like Mario to finish up like these players. It would be bad for him.”

Well sadly that’s how Balotelli did end up - full of promise, but no result.

Many have drawn parallels between Balotelli and Brazilian star, Adriano who, despite being tipped for greatness, managed to fritter it all away and is currently out of the game.

I never bought into the sporting Press referring to Balotelli as a tortured genius because he didn’t do it on the field of play unlike, say someone like, George Best.

In fact I had little patience for Balotelli’s off-field antics and, in Derry terms, he was a ‘torture’ but no genius when it came to the world of football.

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The Doc’s Prescription - Bye Bye Mario

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