Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli has caused somewhat of a tense atmosphere at the club if recent reports are to be believed. His attitude has always been one liable to cathartic release, both on and off the pitch, and it shows no sign of changing. He has been quoted as affirming his allegiance and commitment to Manchester City only up until June next year; he was also spotted having a meal with the AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. This utter lack of respect for the club, who paid a hefty £23 million for him, is staggering and epitomizes the types of characters that City attract with their unrivalled sums of money.

Does Balotelli embody the type of capricious mentality that City have been accused of harbouring? This season Roberto Mancini has accused players of laziness, and to echo his manager’s thoughts, Kolo Toure has reiterated that same sentiment by stating that some of his fellow team mates need to wake up from their languid stupors. Then to seal the problem of work ethic that seems to be preoccupying everyone at the club, Balotelli is apparently treated differently, causing outrage from players who see this as preferential treatment.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge were reported to have confronted Mancini with their worries over Balotelli’s special treatment, as he was allowed to leave training early after having not played due to the suspension he is currently serving. Let us first observe that these four players aren’t playing regularly, so this will produce a sense of frustration in itself that’s ready to pounce at the first sign of opportunity. Secondly, all players have individual needs and the reasons for Balotelli’s early exit from training may have been perfectly legitimate.

Aside from this apparent difference in treatment and player unrest, Balotelli serves to illustrate the types of players that City will be dealing with. He can be seen to represent City at their worst, which is the lack of consideration for anyone apart from themselves. Manchester City wish to compete at the highest level, so they acquire players through their means and rotate them accordingly. This reduces the players to resenting each other due to their competitive natures of wanting to play, resulting in a lack of cohesion within the squad and abject performances.

Balotelli also has his own interests at heart when he is quoted as saying he’ll only commit himself to City until June, for his real desire lies in playing for AC Milan and returning to Italy. His temperament is extremely questionable and reckless at times, this contrasted with City’s public confrontations serves to show a comparison between the two. Don’t take me to be lambasting City as a whole, I’m merely asserting that they become a victim of their own nature because these types of players are attracted to the tangible rewards. This requires the relenting of their egos for the team, whether this relenting occurs is another matter and will be the making of City’s season.

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