Ex-Man City striker Balotelli reveals ‘biggest mistake’ of his career
Mario Balotelli has admitted that he should not have left Manchester City when he did.
The Italian striker signed for City at the age of 20. He made 80 appearances for the Citizens and helped them win their first-ever Premier League title.
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Three years after moving to England, Balotelli returned to Italy to sign for AC Milan, before returning to the Premier League for a failed spell at Liverpool.
He currently plays in the Turkish top flight for Adana Demirspor and has scored ten goals in 22 league matches this season.
The 31-year-old’s solid form this campaign earned him a call-up to the Italian national side by his former manager at Man City, Roberto Mancini.
In an interview with The Athletic, Balotelli has admitted that leaving City when he did is the “biggest mistake” of his career.
“I think that was my biggest mistake, to leave City,” Balotelli said.
“Even in the year when I left, I played very well in Milan for a year and a half, but after that, I had some problems. And now that I’m older, I know that I shouldn’t have left City at that time.”
Balotelli added: “All these years seeing City improving, improving and improving. I could have been here like Sergio Aguero for a long time.”
Meanwhile, Roy Keane urged Jack Grealish to “grow up” ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup win over Peterborough on Tuesday.
Grealish has struggled at times this season at City following his move from Aston Villa in the summer, which made him the most expensive British player in history.
And ahead of the game at London Road, Keane suggested Grealish’s “off-field stuff” is harming his relationship with both Guardiola and England boss Gareth Southgate.
“I think it’s crunch time for Man City over the next few months,” Keane said on ITV. “This is where you will really test as a player, crunch games.
“Jack’s had a few injury problems, [and has] probably been criticised a little bit for his off-field stuff but I think what Jack has to do is grow up and get the trust of Pep.
