‘Mancini said this before’, ‘Could’ve been great’ – Man City Fans reacts as Mario Balotelli reveals his ‘biggest mistake’ in football

Mario Balotelli has accepted he missed the chance to become a player on a par with the greats of the game, admitting his attitude at Manchester City held him back.

Balotelli enjoyed a brilliant start to his career, winning three Serie A titles and the Champions League with Inter Milan before moving to Manchester City.

Balotelli spent two-and-a-half eventful seasons at City, and provided a famous assist for Sergio Aguero when City won the title in 2011 but moved on in 2013 to AC Milan.

Now with his seventh permanent club since leaving the Etihad in 2103, the 31-year-old has found a home with Turkish outfit Adana Demirspor, where he has 10 goals and three assists in 22 appearances this season.

During an interview with his former City teammate Nedum Onuohain for The Athletic, Balotelli suggested that his decision to leave City at the end of 2012/13 season was something which he still regretted, believing he could have gone on to become a club legend, had his approach to the game been a more mature one.

“I think that was my biggest mistake, to leave City,” Balotelli admitted.

“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.

“All these years seeing City improving, improving and improving. I could have been here like Sergio Aguero for a long time.

“If I had my mindset now,” he laughs, “when I was at City, probably one golden ball (Ballon d’Or) I could have won, I’m sure about this. But you know, when you grow up, you mature more, so…”

These Balotelli’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

“Wonderful statement, it takes a good guy to admit wrong doing or thinking.”
Credit: @GoldenRasi3

“Had so much potential.”
Credit: @Erling_Era

“Mancini said this before.”
Credit: @HanceMsokwa

“Could’ve been great.”
Credit: @BuhleQavile

“He was such a naturally gifted player but unfortunatly had the maturity level of a spoilt child. It was the best thing for City that he left.”
Credit: @OneEyedLycan

“Still love this dude”
Credit: @MantusMCFC

“Mario under pep? Madness.”
Credit: @mwezayciteh

“Mario under Pep? Now that would be a love story.”
Credit: @taggingcastro

“Pep and mario at the same time? Sounds impossible to me.”
Credit: @Eddiculous