Rome -
Talented as few and frequent target of racist insults, but with serious disciplinary problems, Mario Balotelli is once again without a club after Brescia terminated his contract for not attending training sessions.
The Italian press said this weekend that club owner Massimo Cellino and his team of lawyers sent the forward a formal notification informing him of the termination of his contract.
"I thought that as captain of his hometown club he could have done much more," said Brescia coach Diego López to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He should and could have done more. A shame. But everyone is the master of their own destiny."
"He took one direction and the team took another," added López.
It was reported that Balotelli submitted a note from a doctor stating that he needed a week off due to stomach problems.
For the club, that was the last straw.
López said that Balotelli was not following the training regime that the club gave its players during the coronavirus pandemic and that the few times he showed up recently, he was very out of shape.
"He is not at the same level as the other players. That's why he was training on his own," said López.
Balotelli signed with Brescia - the city where he was raised by his adoptive family - last August and was given a warm welcome. He had played for numerous clubs in Italy, England, and France, without lasting long in any of them.
"This is my city. Here I can give much more," declared the player at that time.
He scored only five goals in 19 Serie A matches and caused more controversy due to the racist incidents he was involved in than for his performances.
During a match against Hellas Verona in November, he was so frustrated with the racist insults that he threw a ball into the stands and threatened to leave.
Balotelli, who was born in Italy to Ghanaian immigrants, was again the target of racist insults during a match against Lazio in January.
Last week, he posted messages on his Instagram account denouncing police brutality and racism in the United States following the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died when a police officer knelt on his neck.
There have been no official announcements and neither the club nor Balotelli responded to requests for comments. It is possible that the case will end up in court.
And it is almost certain that Balotelli will not play when Brescia faces Fiorentina when the season resumes on June 22.
If he does not return to play for the club, Balotelli, who will turn 30 in August, will miss the opportunity to score another five goals and double his salary, according to the contract clauses. (D)