Predictably, self-condfidence has never been much of an issue for Balotelli. Having been named the best young player in Europe in December 2010, most 20 year olds would have shirked the limelight and rattled off the same tiresome cliches about 'getting their head down' and 'concentrating on their football'. The former Inter Milan striker, on the other hand, went about revelling in his own brilliance, declaring that the only former winner of the Golden Boy gong who could match his talents was the divine Lionel Messi. Effectively declaring himself better than Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas and his Man City strike partner Sergio Aguero then, eh? Arsenal's 18 year old Jack Wilshere will have been the most bemused by the Italian's digressions, with Balotelli immediately dismissing the runner-up to the award.
''What's his name? Wil...? No, I just don't know him, but the next time I play against Arsenal I'll try to be careful. Maybe I could show him the Golden Boy trophy and remind him that I won.'' - Mario Balotelli, December 2010.
It may have been just a bit of gentle ribbing, but the young man's supreme confidence and charisma was shining through. No longer would the media have to purport with the PR-trained dullards, terrified to offend anyone or reveal too much throughout their interviews, effectively neutralising through their personalities. He had only been in the country for six months, but the media already had enough material to dedicate weekly columns to the Italian's antics and sound-bites if they so wished. One will probably assume that a certain Golden Boy runner-up won't have been in first in line to buy said newspapers, however.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
