In a recent interview with CNN, Jose Mourinho discussed the difficulties of managing Italian international Mario Balotelli while the duo were both at Inter.
Now with Real Madrid, the Portuguese tactician jokingly reminisced through a retrospectively laughable anecdote in which Balotelli ultimately received a red card.
“I could write a book of 200 pages of my two years at Inter with Mario, but the book would not be a drama – it would be a comedy,” the tactician noted.
“I remember one time when we went to play Rubin 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 the 42nd minute, so when I got to the dressing room at half-time I spend about 14 minutes of the 15 available 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.’
“The 46th minute – red card!”
The enigmatic Manchester City striker earned his team a point against Borussia Dortmund in Champions League play on Wednesday with a late penalty.
