Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli
Jose Mourinho has revealed what it was like to coach Mario Balotelli, branding it a comedy.
The Portuguese coach took over at Inter during his two-year spell between 2008-2010, with the tempestuous pair so often at logger-heads.
The duo both went their respective ways with Mourinho having joined Real Madrid and Balotelli to Manchester City, where he rekindled his partnership with former Inter coach Roberto Mancini.
In an interview with CNN the tactician revealed the light hearted side of their controversial relationship.
“The most problematic players were funny. Mario was good fun.
“I could write a book of 200 pages of my two years in Inter with Mario, but the book would not be a drama, it would be a comedy.”
Mourinho then cited the famous story of Balotelli’s sending off in the 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan in the Champions League in 2009.
“I remember one time went to play Kazan in the Champions League. In that match I had all my strikers injured. No Milito, no Eto’o, I was really in trouble and Mario was the only one.
“Mario got a yellow card in the 42nd minute, so when I go to the dressing room at half-time I spend about 14 minutes of the 15 available speaking only to Mario.
“I said to him, ‘Mario, I cannot change you, I have no strikers on the bench, so don’t touch anybody and play only with the ball. If we lose the ball no reaction. If someone provokes you, no reaction, if the referee makes a mistake, no reaction.’ The 46th minute, red card.”
SuperMario, as he is known to the fans, shares an equally heated relationship with Mancini, who has often threatened to release him from the club.