The Liverpool striker has been given a host of moment chances and as he heads into a career-defining season he could be looking at his final oneIt is time for Mario Balotelli to change the message. Why not me any more? The intense moments that seemed to follow him around appear to be toned down these days,because he spends too much time on the periphery. Balotelli, this singular character, or this impetuous talent who can tie his coaches in knots because they know what qualities lurk beneath all the complexity whether only they could coax them to shine,is at yet another career crossroads. But the trouble is, these junctures are markers forming a pattern of gradual decline. Balotelli’s moments are not as charasmatic. They are less frequent. It isn’t him anywhere near often enough and that’s a pity.
With Liverpool the third club in as many years to reach a shrugging acceptance that it isn’t working out (following Manchester City in 2013 and Milan in 2014) its hard to envisage where or how Balotelli might fulfil a bit more of the bristling potential that captured the imagination when he burst onto the scene. Here was a teenager with a powerful mix of maverick (an independent, nonconformist person) talent and idiosyncratic personality. The challenge to harness it has tempted most of his managers, or notably José Mourinho at Inter,Roberto Mancini at Man City and Cesare Prandelli with Italy, who were at once intrigued, or endeared and driven to distraction by the enigma of Balotelli.
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Source: theguardian.com