Former Manchester City star Mario Balotelli has shared his experience in the Premier League and the persistent criticism he received during his time at Etihad.
Following his three-year tenure at Inter Milan, Balotelli joined Man City in 2010 and continued there till 2013, during which he recorded 30 goals and six assists in 80 appearances.
Despite arriving at Man City as one of the most promising talents, Balotelli was almost constantly criticised by the media due to his demeanour and inconsistent performances.
One of his most memorable moments at Man City was Balotelli's goal celebration in their historic 6-1 win in a Manchester Derby in October 2011. After finding the back of the net, the Italian star unveiled a shirt that had the message "Why always me?" in response to the constant stream of critical reports about him.
Balotelli recently opened up about his time at the English top flight, mentioning that it 'shaped' him 'the most,' and told La Gazzetta dello Sport,
"My experience with Inter was part of my development, but I think England shaped me the most. It was the first time I was alone, my family wasn't there, and I wasn't used to it," as per GOAL.
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"It shapes you for better or for worse, because you make mistakes and have to get out of them on your own. Why Always Me? I had it before the match with a warehouse worker; I was the centre of attention for my problems, and it was a nice outburst. The tabloids in England went overboard with me."
Along with Man City, Balotelli has also played reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool, from 2014 to 2016, during which he netted four goals in 28 matches.
Following his one-season tenure at Serie A club Genoa in the previous campaign, Balotelli is currently without a club and has shed some light on his plans for the future.
What's next for ex-Manchester City star Mario Balotelli?
Balotelli was able to make only six appearances for Genoa in the last season due to his broken hand and fitness issues.
The 35-year-old striker, who is now a free agent and is reportedly training alone to maintain his fitness, spoke about how he has turned down offers across leagues to continue his career in Italy and said,
"I've had offers from abroad and I said no because in my heart I still hoped there was a chance to play in Italy. Right now, that offer hasn't arrived, and I'm at a point where I have to decide whether to sign for a team abroad or maybe take a break and think about January."
It remains to be seen if Balotelli will be able to find himself a new club in Italy or make a move to a different league.
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