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Why there is still hope for Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli was loaned to AC Milan after suffering a horrendous last season at Liverpool

Palermo-born Mario Balotelli had the chance to don the colors of FC Barcelona ten years ago. Ten years since his failed trial with the Blaugrana followed by multiple disappointing spells at some of Europe’s elite clubs, Balotelli sits in anticipation as two fallen giants contemplate his future.

On the evidence of this season, Balotelli has merely been a fringe player at Milan. Losing out to a younger, more energetic striker in M’Baye Niang, Balotelli has clocked just six starts of Milan’s 35 league games up to this point, amounting to 689 minutes in total.

He has enjoyed some playing time in recent weeks primarily due to the season-ending injury suffered by Niang, who had comfortably sealed a starting spot in the first-team beside Carlos Bacca. The solitary league goal against Udinese in late September makes matters considerably worse for the Italian.

Two league goals in two seasons is a worrying statistic for a player of Mario’s caliber. What’s gone wrong with this maverick forward?

A mercurial rise that failed to settle down

Balotelli is not one to shy away from controversy. His troublesome attitude off-the-pitch and his indifferent attitude on it alerted football clubs across the continent. Although his talent is not in doubt, there have always been questions and critics galore. Given his well-etched history, it is easy to presume that the Italian’s failings were largely driven by his behavioral problems. Oddly, that might only be half-true.

At Internazionale, the boy that Balotelli was, ruled the footballer he was becoming. Loaded with prodigious potential and sparking continent-wide envy, Balotelli had announced himself as, unquestionably, the brightest attacking talent to emerge since Antonio Cassano. Perennial discord with the Inter coach at the time, Jose Mourinho, coupled with widely disapproved outbursts on the pitch led to Balotelli packing his bags for Manchester City.

Balotelli arrived in England in August 2010 and brought with him a baggage of tantrums and tricks that didn’t fly well with the English media. Balotelli stirred enough controversy to keep journalists up at night. With his goal tally being marginally better than his card count, the suits at City wholeheartedly agreed to cash in on him, sending him back to Italy.

His first stint at AC Milan continues to be the best period of his career so far. His indelible contribution in terms of goals helped the club secure a Champions League berth. Gradually, however, his performances waned as did his goals.

Milan had to cash in on an asset with fading value and with Liverpool coming up on some money from the sale of Suarez, Milan identified a taker.

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