Mario Balotelli had the most Mario Balotelli Sunday afternoon in Serie A when he was sent off just seven minutes into coming on.
The enigmatic Italian striker was brought on for Brescia against Cagliari with the score at 2-2 as the hosts looked to snatch a late winner.
But the decision to bring him on could not have gone worse. He was shown a yellow card for a dangerously high tackle and then talked himself into a second yellow and subsequent dismissal when he insulted the referee.
Absolute peak Balotelli in just seven minutes.
It was the 13th red card of his career and luckily for him there was no 'good behaviour clause' inserted in his Brescia deal unlike there was during his time at Liverpool because he would definitely not be getting a bonus.
Today's antics from Balotelli are reminiscent of the time he completely ignored Jose Mourinho's half-time team talk at Inter Milan got sent off when already on a yellow card away at Rubin Kazan in the Champions League.
Speaking to Pedro Pinto from CNN in 2012, he said: "I remember one time when we went to play Kazan in the Champions League. In that match I had all my strikers injured. No Diego Milito, no Samuel Eto'o, I was really in trouble and Mario was the only one.
"Mario got a yellow card in minute 42 or 43, so when I got to the dressing room at half-time I spend about 14 minutes of the 15 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. Mario - please.
"Minute 46 - red card!"
Never change, Mario.
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-mario-balotelli-comes-on-in-74th-minute-gets-sent-off-20200119
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