MARIO BALLOTELLI
Mario was born in Palermo on August 12th, 1990. In 1992, at the age of two, he begins living with his new Italian family, in Brescia, the Balotellis. Right away his new mum, dad, and older brothers and sister, give him the love and attention a son or brother deserves.FIRST STEPS He is only five years old when he shows his desire to play football. Therefore he begins playing with a small team in his neighbourhood and later in Mompiano's parish (Brescia). Due to his exceptional technical skills he moves very soon to the Youth Team.
In 2001 he joins Lumezzane AC, a local football club. When he's 15 years old he gains his first cup with the ProTeam (Padova-Lumezzane, Stadium Euganeo, 2nd April 2006). His promotion to the senior side of the Lumezzane club is made possible by a special permission from the C-League, as in order to play with the Pros one must be at least 16 years of age. Mario is the youngest player in C-League history.
DEALS FOR HIS CONTRACT In the summer of 2006 teams from both the A and B leagues fight to get this extraordinary young talent, with terrific dribbling and acrobatic skills, as well as an extraordinary play vision and a superb right kick. Lumezzane AC signs with Fiorentina and seems unwilling to deal with anyone else. In the meantime Mario spends five days in Barcelona for a trial. FC Barcelona's managers, people with great experience of talented youth players, are positively enthusiastic about this great young player. At Camp Nou, Mario scores eight goals and gains some unforgettable memories.
His brothers, Corrado and Giovanni, owners of an export consultant company, start long and difficult deals aiming to find the most suitable team. Their objective is to find a team where Mario may continue his studies and, at the same time, grow as a complete, professional football player.
Problems arise during negotiations with foreign clubs due to Mario’s citizenship. According to the Italian law, he must wait until after his 18th birthday in order to request the Italian citizenship. He is not yet an Italian citizen, although he was born in Italy and has never left the country.
FC INTERNAZIONALE On the last valid day for contract signing, Internazionale FC offers Mario a serious project of personal and professional growth. Therefore, on 31st August 2006, Mario moves to the Moratti's team.
He plays with the Under 16 Team and becomes the unofficial leader. Creating terror for the opposite defenders, he scores an average of 19 goals in 20 plays. After four months with the Allievi Nazionali he moves to the youth team (Under-20 Primavera) and again, he cannot stop! He scores 8 goals in 11 plays! These are important scores. On 28th April 2007, playing against Genoa, he scores two goals and Internazionale pass into the quarter final (see video). On may 2007, he scores with no fear the penalty kick (on the 90 minute) in the Youth League Final in Bressanone against Sampdoria, giving FC Internazionale the "Scudetto" (see video).
DEBUT At 17 years old Mario made his First Team debut on December 17, 2007, stepping onto the field 2 minutes before the end of the Series A League Cagliari-FC Internazionale football match. It is only an appearance. The chance for playing arrives shortly thereafter on December 19, 2007, in Reggina-FC Internazionale at the Reggio Calabria’s stadium (see video).
Mario plays for 90 minutes and scores two goals. During the Christmas holidays Mario flies to Brazil, being hosted by the Mata Escura-Mata Atlantica Project in Salvador de Bahia. Immediately he makes friends, organizing football games with the kids of the Project. From the favelas of Brazil where he has spent New Year’s Eve, Mario goes to Dubai in the Emirates with the First Team of FC Internazionale. There he plays in the Dubai Cup.
ITALIAN TIM CUP With the new year, other opportunities to play in important football matches with the Series A League soon arise. In the Italian Cup, Mario plays first at San Siro stadium (FC Internazionale-Reggina), then at the Olimpico in Turin (Juventus-FC Internazionale). It is with the latter match (January 30, 2008) that the overall Italian nation discovers Mario, who scores two beautiful goals against Juventus, the second one being decisive for victory. He makes the headlines: the media talk about Mario as a 17 years old "phenomenon".
CHAMPIONSHIP Mario's contribution to the First League team becomes more and more important in the last matches of the Championship. He's the author of the winning goal in Atalanta-FC Internazionale (April 6, 0-2) and FC Internazionale-Fiorentina (April 13, 2-0). The goal he scores in Bergamo is his first in the Serie A Championship (see video), after those he scored in the Italian Cup against Reggina and Juventus. One week later, in San Siro, he celebrates with another goal in his first match as titular (see video).
Also, in Torino-FC Internazionale (April 20, 0-1) and in FC Internazionale-Cagliari (April 27, 2-1) Mario plays the titular, working for the team as a veteran football player. In the derby Milan-FC Internazionale (May 4) he steps onto the field only 25 minutes before the end of the match when the final result not looking good for his team (2-0). Then he plays titular in FC Internazionale-Siena (May 11, 2-2) where he scores the second goal with a header. In addition to the goal all the penalties and free kicks are credited to Mario (see video). On May 18th, in Parma-FC Internazionale (2-0), Mario becomes champion of Italy at 17 years old. The match is played in a heavy rainstorm, but FC Internazionale gains the "Scudetto". As usual Mario receives credit for all the free kicks and penalties which he performes superbly and professionally.
