It’s been reported that Mario Balotelli has requested a transfer following the incident at the end of the Inter Milan – Barcelona Champions League game at the San Siro. The situation is quite complex, but I must say that I feel for the young man. Inter fans refuse to cut him any slack. Granted he doesn’t help his cause with some of his petulant antics, but no player, especially one so young, deserves to be berated at every turn. Regardless of one’s opinion about Mario, a couple of things are clear: he is immensely talented and he is in need of a mentor that would help nurture him on and off the pitch. Regarding the fans, I wonder if they ever ask themselves why they target this kid with impunity. Surely he isn’t the first cocky football player to ply his trade in Italy. The way I see it, he needs to leave his homeland and play abroad in a place where he will be given a chance to make mistakes and succeed in equal measure. Perhaps a change of scenery in a foreign country would do him some good and finally give him the platform to fully express himself.
