MARIO BALOTELLI has threatened to bring out his inner “rebel” after being frozen out by Patrick Vieira.
The notorious football bad-boy is currently playing in his native Italy for Genoa.
Balotelli joined the Serie A side last October after spells in Turkey and Switzerland.
But he has missed the majority of the last two months nursing a broken hand.
Balotelli has played just 56 minutes in total for Genoa since joining the club.
His last appearance was a short cameo off the bench against Napoli in December.
Balotelli claims to be match fit – but has been frozen out of the squad by Arsenal legend Vieira.
The 34-year-old took to Instagram on Monday to seemingly voice his frustration with a cryptic post.
Standing shirtless in the Genoa dressing room, Balotelli wrote: “Around here they deserve the rebellious 16-year-old Mario.
“Maybe that way they would understand what it means to truly lack respect.”
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Balotelli was renowned for his hell-raising antics early in his career.
He infamously let off fireworks in his flat while playing for Manchester City.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Mario Balotelli shows off skills in brilliant game” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6361780023112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The wild child also fought with teammates and threw darts at a youth team star.
Various City managers felt they could tame the talented Italian forward.
But since leaving the North West in 2013, he has rocked up at nine different clubs.
[boxout headline=”Mario Balotelli’s career in numbers” featured-image=”34364087″ intro=”THE Italian had the world at his feet when he arrived at Manchester City back in 2010.”]Club career
- 2005-2006 Lumezzane – 2 appearances, 0 goals
- 2007-2010: Inter Milan – 86 appearances, 28 goals
- 2010-2013: Man City – 80 appearances, 30 goals
- 2012-2014: AC Milan – 54 appearances, 30 goals
- 2014-2015: Liverpool – 28 appearances, 4 goals
- 2015-2016: AC Milan (loan) – 23 appearances, 3 goals
- 2016-2019: Nice – 76 appearances, 43 goals
- 2018-2019: Marseille – 15 appearances, 8 goals
- 2019-2020: Brescia – 19 appearances, 5 goals
- 2020-2021: Monza – 14 appearances, 6 goals
- 2021-2023: Adana Demirspor – 35 appearances, 19 goals
- 2022-2023: Sion – 19 appearances, 6 goals
- 2023-2024: Adana Demispor – 16 appearances, 7 goals
- 2024-present: Genoa – 6 appearances, 0 goals
International career
- 2008-2010: Italy under-21 – 18 appearances, 7 goals
- 2010-2018: Italy – 36 appearances, 14 goals
Balotelli was approached last November by Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino, signing on the back of a positive meeting.
But Gilardino left the club just weeks after Balotelli’s arrival, with Vieira put in charge.
Balotelli signed a one-year deal with Genoa but is yet to find the net.
It’s now over a year since he last netted in a game.
Balotelli last found the net for Adana Demirspor against Turkish giants Fenerbahce in April 2024.