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Balotelli Appreciation Thread


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Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli faces the wrath of manager Roberto Mancini after preparing for Monday night's crucial game at Chelsea with a late night out that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Italian striker Balotelli is in the City squad for what is arguably their biggest game of the Barclays Premier League season at Stamford Bridge.

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Night out: Mario Balotelli with his girlfriend Raffaella Fico on Saturday

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But Sportsmail understands that Balotelli was out until at least 12.45am in Manchester city centre after a Saturday night out with friends.

City declined to comment on the alleged incident, but did confirm that first-team players are not expected to be socialising less than 48 hours before a game.

Mancini is known to have a more relaxed attitude than some Premier League managers, but it is clear he will be unimpressed with another lapse in discipline from the controversial Balotelli.

The 21-year-old was not thought to have been drinking alcohol in the Zouk Bar and Restaurant - which serves Indian food - but was described by one eye witness as behaving 'boisterously' with a group of friends.

City had their last training session before the clash in west London on Sunday morning, meaning Balotelli will not have had a full night's sleep beforehand.

Sources at the Etihad Stadium told Sportsmail that Mancini does not have a problem with players enjoying a mid-evening meal out in the run-up to a game.

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Hot water: News of Balotelli's night out has angered Mancini

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Uneasy: Mancini hangs back from his groups of players - including Balotelli - as the teams heads to London

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However, it was also made clear that the City boss will view a night out that ends in the early hours as a step too far.

Mancini has gone to extraordinary lengths to accommodate Balotelli during the young centre forward's season-and-a-half in England.

And there have been times recently when the former Inter player appeared to be listening. But this latest episode underlines that Balotelli still refuses

to take some things on board.

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Net result: Balotelli scored in the recent victory over Norwich

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Guest phonecharger

Balotelli racks up £55,000 hotel bill

Man City striker forks out to stay in Hilton after firework damage

By TIM NIXON

Published: 15th December 2011

MANCHESTER City oddball Mario Balotelli has reportedly racked up a £55,000 hotel bill after he was forced to evacuate his firework-ravaged home.

The striker — dubbed Mad Mario — is said to have decamped to the Manchester Hilton after a £200 banger ignited in the bathroom of his £3million rented pad causing extensive damage.

Repairs to the property will set the Italian player back £400,000.

And it's now claimed he's forked out another £55,000 to stay in a £979-per-night suite in the five star hotel ever since the unfortunate incident in October.

As well as smoke damage to the four-bed Cheshire pad, the bathroom in which the firework exploded was gutted.

The incident is said to have occurred when a friend of Balotelli aimed the pyrotechnic device at fellow revellers partying in the garden.

Ten firefighters raced to the scene.

A source said: "There's nothing left of the designer bathroom but charred and melted remains.

"Thick smoke made the whole place uninhabitable. That's what has sent the damage costs spiralling.

"They were lucky to escape serious injury."

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The furious businessman who owns the plush abode reportedly refused to go through insurance, demanding Balotelli pay for the renovation work out of his own pocket.

It's not the first time 21-year-old Balotelli has been caught up in a firework controversy – he let off rockets from the balcony of the Manchester flat he initially rented upon signing for City in August last year.

Speaking about his mood after the 1am stunt at his former gaff backfired, he said: "I was really, really angry."

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