Anwar Ibrahim (Cairo)
The Italian striker, Mario Balotelli, the Turkish player Demirspor, said that he does not have feelings of “jealousy” towards the two great stars of Argentina, Lionel Messi, and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, because he is no less than them in terms of talent, skills and technical capabilities, noting that he could have won the Golden Ball, If he continued as a player in Manchester City.
Balotelli is considered one of the most mysterious and strange players of his generation, and he moved in more than one club, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Inter Milan and AC Milan, and also played in France and Turkey.
Balotelli admitted in an interview with the newspaper “The Athletic” that he “missed” more than one opportunity to reach the highest level in football, but nevertheless, he does not believe that there is a player better than him in terms of individual capabilities.
He said: Messi and Ronaldo collected 12 golden balls together, so there is no room to talk about their competition, but that does not make him jealous of them, because he is 100% sure that his skills are equal with these two stars. He added: “Today, I cannot say that I am at my best and as good as Ronaldo and Messi, because these two stars have won many titles and championships, broke many records, and no one can compare themselves with them.”
Balotelli’s decline began in his level when he moved to Liverpool from 2014 and 2016, then he played for Nice, Marseille, Brescia and Monza, before signing for Turkish Demirspor.
Balotelli, who was recently called up by Italy coach Roberto Mancini, believes that his departure from the Etihad Stadium in 2013 was a turning point in his football career, and said: If I had spent a long time in Manchester City, I would have definitely obtained the Golden Ball, and I would have earned myself there the same appreciation. And the legendary situation reached by Argentine Sergio Aguero.
Balotelli admitted that his departure from “City” was the biggest mistake he made, and said: “Even after I left City, I played a year and a half at the best in AC Milan, and then the problems started, and now I am old.”
At the end of his speech, Balotelli admitted that the English Premier League title he won with City is more important than winning the Champions League with Inter.