Yes, Mario Balotelli Actually Tried to Pull Off a Backheel on a Breakaway

All, Soccer, Video Jason McIntyre July 24th. 2011, 6:42pm

Mario Balotelli of Manchester City had a breakaway against the LA Galaxy Sunday in a friendly match, and in a classic moment of showboating gone wrong, Balotelli attempted a spin-and-backheel. It’s something you try to pull off in the backyard or during an indoor game, but certainly not in friendly.

His teammate raised his arms in bewilderment. His coach immediately pulled him from the game, and then Balotelli walked to the bench, where he mouthed off as if he somehow wasn’t at fault. The announcer can be heard saying, “are you kidding me?”

A striker with prodigious ability, Balotelli is only 20, and could be the next in a long line of Italian forwards with a penchant for scoring (Del Piero, Baggio, Vieri). Super Mario’s petulance could prove to be a problem, though.

[Hat tip: Jeff Ungrund]

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24 Responses to “Yes, Mario Balotelli Actually Tried to Pull Off a Backheel on a Breakaway”

1
philgp Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 7:31 PM
And then he had the audacity to act pissed off on the bench. I imagine he’ll get some more bench time in other friendlies
2
WCT Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 7:34 PM
good to have the NFL back. Its been a little disconcerting living in a world where an Italian player on an EPL team flubs an attempt at showboating in a meaningless game nobody watched and its a post-worthy topic.
3
traderjack21 Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 7:43 PM
DaSean Jackson thinks this guy is a douche
4
Garland Greene Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 7:43 PM
My question is: Was he pulled for trying it or for missing it? Would have been interesting to see how the manager would have dealt with him had it went in.
5
traderjack21 Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 7:45 PM
My question is: Was he pulled for trying it or for missing it? Would have been interesting to see how the manager would have dealt with him had it went in.
I would have pulled him either way.
6
Der Kaiser Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 7:55 PM
He continues to make life difficult for himself. After so much controversy in Italy, he had such a great chance for a fresh start in England, yet he continues to throw it away.
7
Geeezeus Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Key word being “friendly”. What is the point of an exhibition other than to entertain the people who paid for a ticket?
8
TheBigLead Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Kaiser – you probably know more about this guy than most readers … how good is he? just some light reading today made it seem like he has major future potential as a star
9
mizerle06 asks for the autoplay to be turned off Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 8:53 PM
I would have pulled him either way.
comments needs either a “/no homo” or a “/coop”
10
Ballz Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:00 PM
I can’t believe it’s another year until I get to watch the Tour de France again. I’ll be going through severe withdrawals. I wish it was on everyday. Dammit……
11
Der Kaiser Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:06 PM
He is a “promising young player”. But those are dime a dozen in world football. Your attitude and work rate pushes you to the top. And he is lacking in both categories. In Italy, he dealt with lot of racism. Unlike England, where black englishmen isn’t an anomaly, being a black-italian made him face a lot of crap from rival fans. He doesn’t help his own cause because of stuff like he pulled today, or wearing AC Milan shirt in a TV program, while playing for Inter Milan (the ultimate no-no).
As far as how good he is. I’m not sold on him. He has yet to score 10+ goals in a league season. He is 20 year old striker, which isn’t THAT young in football. By that age you should be an established goal scorer in your club. Something he isn’t at this point of his career. Ironically, his bad attitude is masking his bad play. If I had to guess, if he ever matures emotionally, I’d say he can become a 15-18 goal per season scorer in EPL. Good. Not great.
12
TheBigLead Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:09 PM
20 starting on Man City?
13
traderjack21 Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:17 PM
20 starting on Man City?
It’s not their A-crew playing in a lot of these friendlys so many young guys will get the start.
14
Huskerteers Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:17 PM
I kept saying attitude is the same reason I didn’t want Chelsea to sign Neymar this year. As you said Kaiser, he had the chance for a fresh start, and he keeps pulling stuff like this, not really helping his cause.
15
Der Kaiser Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:18 PM
Like Duffy points out, 20 isn’t young in soccer. The special players in soccer are starters by 18 at their club. By 20, you should be established starter at national team. Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller etc were all established player by that age.
16
Der Kaiser Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:24 PM
I kept saying attitude is the same reason I didn’t want Chelsea to sign Neymar this year. As you said Kaiser, he had the chance for a fresh start, and he keeps pulling stuff like this, not really helping his cause.
I’d be curious to know how many immature, petulant, primadonna young players figure it out and fulfill their promise. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but it seems like if you are douchebag at 20, more than likely, you’ll be a douchebag at 26. It’s one thing if you are arrogant when you have achieved something. But when you are entitled when you haven’t done jack squat, that always throws up all sorts of red flag.
17
domolm Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 9:25 PM
Almost certain Balotelli thought he was offside which is why he mucked around.
18
Senator Jersey Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 10:19 PM
I kept saying attitude is the same reason I didn’t want Chelsea to sign Neymar this year.
Neymar’s career would be over before it started if he went anywhere north of Spain to play soccer professionally.
Balotelli is extremely talented. He just doesn’t give a shit about being a professional.
19
Huskerteers Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Regarding Neymar: I think he has attitude problems and I think that the Premier League doesn’t really suit someone with his play-style, whereas Spain might. I post on a Chelsea board, and I was in the minority of not wanting Neymar (although a lot of that also had to do with his massive price tag). I will freely accept it if I am totally wrong about him, but I think the best that he will end up being is another Robinho, massively talented but never quite got to the level that he should have been at.
20
Huskerteers Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 11:24 PM
OT but how do I get an icon next to my name like Der Kaiser and his flag? I figured it would be in “Edit Profile” but not seeing anything.
/longtime reader, fairly-new poster
//trying not to think about the BAR exam this week
21
Senator Jersey Says:
July 24th, 2011 at 11:27 PM
OT but how do I get an icon next to my name like Der Kaiser and his flag? I figured it would be in “Edit Profile” but not seeing anything.
Go here. Use the same sign in and password you use for this site. Go nuts.
22
gfunk supreme Says:
July 25th, 2011 at 12:35 AM
//trying not to think about the BAR exam this week
You’re not alone. We’ll be all right.
23
orly57 Says:
July 25th, 2011 at 10:57 AM
I am not a soccer fan, so someone please tell me what was wrong with what he did. If he made it he would have been on “Top Plays” no? And as another reader commented, isn’t a “friendly” just a practice match played for fun?
24
Sgc Says:
July 26th, 2011 at 9:03 AM
I am not a soccer fan, so someone please tell me what was wrong with what he did. If he made it he would have been on “Top Plays” no? And as another reader commented, isn’t a “friendly” just a practice match played for fun?
I kinda agree, but that move had absolutely no chance. And it kinda looked like he managed to half-ass his showboating. but yeah, I’m for entertainment in these things.
As for Balotelli in general, watch the name. He’ll either turn the corner and be a superstar, or he’ll flame out in an entertaining way and be a great punchline (or maybe, like Maradonna, both). He’s silky-smooth on the ball, got some good finishes in him, and he’s hella fast and strong. He’s got the tools.
20 isn’t incredibly young in soccer, though I’ll point out that Franck Ribery and Didier Drogba were pretty much unknowns at that age. But arguably they were different situations because they weren’t golden children like Balotelli has been in his youth career.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned the corner at big-time level at about the same age as Balotelli is now, and one senses that he wants to get it in gear pretty soon, because he’s now gotten a reputation he needs to try to get rid of. Man City definitely won’t be the last big club to give him a shot, but if he doesn’t work out there they could be the second-to-last.