Five episodes that have marked Italian Mario Balotelli as a true football eccentric:
1) Bad first impression
Just days after signing for Manchester City, Balotelli hits the headlines after crashing his Audi R8 en route to the club's training ground. Balotelli is found to be carrying 5,000 pounds in cash at the time of the accident and when police ask why, he reportedly replies: "Because I am rich."
2) Dart shame
Balotelli showed his lack of maturity when it emerged he threw darts at City youth team players through a training ground window in March 2011. No one was hurt in the incident and he escaped punishment.
3) Fireworks off the pitch
Balotelli had a run-in with the emergency services in October 2011 after a firework was set off in the bathroom of his home, triggering a fire.
The next day, he scored in the Manchester derby and celebrated by revealing a T-shirt which read: "Why always me?"
4) Bizarre prison break
Mario and 17-year-old brother Enock were arrested strolling through the grounds of a women's prison in Brescia, near Milan, in October 2011.
Balotelli is said to have told police that curiosity got the better of him and "just fancied having a look".
5) Banned after Parker stamp
Balotelli is charged with violent conduct by the Football Association, and subsequently handed a four-match ban, after appearing to stamp on the head of Tottenham's Scott Parker during a Premier League match in January 2012.
Honorable mention
Manchester City's former manager Roberto Mancini was left furious after Mario Balotelli's disrespectful failed backheel against LA Galaxy
AFP
source: newshub archive
