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Balotelli told off for playing with iPad during Euro qualifier

Comment: 0 September 6th, 2011 by: admin

Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli reportedly received harsh words from manager Cesare Prandelli after the forward took his iPad with him during a Euro 2012 qualifier match Friday.

According to reports, this incident occurred during a game against the Faroe Islands, during which Balotelli only played during the closing six minutes.

Prandelli was also said to have been disappointed by Balotelli’s performance during the pre-game warm-up.  Due to this, the manager decided to let Balotelli play during the match’s tail end, instead of the start of the second half as previously planned.

Gigi Rivera, Italy team manager, attempted to water down the situation between Balotelli and Prandelli by telling reporters that it was not a massive issue.

‘Balotelli’s situation is nothing to worry about,’ Riva said.  ‘These are small things that happen in every team.  He only played a few minutes against Faroe Islands so he couldn’t do much.’

Riva added that the forward’s training sessions reveal a good player, despite reports.

‘In every training, Mario gives his best,’ he said.  ‘Prandelli did not watch Balotelli’s warm-up because he was watching the game.  Let’s not create a problem where there is none.’

Controversy has not been an uncommon thing for the forward, who had opposed Prandelli’s ‘code of conduct’, thereby barring him from playing with the Italian squad for two qualifying games.

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