Why Always Him?

The moment has finally arrived. The one moment that has waited and waited, dragged on and on and on.... finally, Mario Balotelli has been sold from Manchester City to AC Milan. I must say, I'm a huge fan of Balotelli. I have got three of his jerseys (2 Man City, 1 Inter Milan). I cracked a silent smile everytime the numerous rumours of his impending fallout/departure from Man City proved groundless, and he stayed on, month after month, season after season. But now it seems the impossible has happened.

I came to the realisation a few months back that I have something for madcap, nut-cracker, basically crazy-types. Joey Barton is a personal favourite (I've got his Newcastle and QPR jerseys, and was seriously thinking of getting his current Marseille one); another is Robbie Savage (got his autobiography), serial tackler David Batty (got his autobiography). Balotelli just fits perfectly along that list. When he came into the BPL, it was like a one-man circus had arrived. Suddenly, tabloids were alight with crazy, mad happenings sourrounding the Italian. Fireworks going off in his bathroom, smashing his Bentley here and there, walking in to a school unannounced 'like he owned the place', his arrogant goal celebrations (and some goals scored), his interesting quotes such as 'I'm not bad boy', his "Why Always Me?' jersey celebration against Man Utd.... The list goes on and on. It was like a one-man whirlwind tornado of entertainment smashing through the BPL. The BPL was never this fun.

His talent on the field was clear for all to see. A mercurial player with superb touch, combining physical presence (6'2" in height) with technical skill, decent pace and fearless aggression.... not an easy player to play against. He almost single-handedly took Italy to the European Championships final in 2012 with a devastating display against favourites Germany. He is so good that Mancini proclaimed him as having the potential to match Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. That just about says it all.

But in this season, let's face it: Balotelli has been nowhere near his best. Looking distracted and uncommitted, his form has dropped so badly that he is now officially regarded as Man City's fourth-choice striker behind Aguero, Tevez and Dzeko. He has hardly played all season. And he is still having arguments with Mancini. Even I, such a staunch supporter of him, has to say that the time is right for him to go. Enough is enough; with his form poor, he is no longer useful to Man City and is perhaps causing more hurt than good with his constant behavioural hysterics. He does not deserve a place in Man City anymore. He deserves to be sold. And if even I think that, it's probably correct.

The constant childish behaviour, the unwillingness to focus on his raw talent that could have made him a world-beater, he's only got himself to blame. And as he joins up with rising star Stephan El-Shaarawy and a rejuvenated Robinho at the San Siro, let's see how things turn out for him over there. You can bet that I'll be watching, and supporting, one of my favourite players.