AC Milan Transfer News

In my usual Saturday morning routine I pulled out the iPad and checked the rumor mill as we near the January window.  I hate the silly season, always have, but when your team has taken to making bigger headlines off the pitch than on it, you sort of go with the flow.  I have to admit I wasn't surprise to read the Management, specifically Silvio himself, stating that Mario Balotelli was for sale.  For a guy who let a different striker sleep in his daughter's bed, this is truly a eye opening news!

Not sure how many times I need to repeat this, but I due in fact love Mario Balotelli. I love everything about the guy, his attitude, his intensity, and what he stands for in a sometimes backwards un-progressive Italy.  What I don't love is the flopping, the lack of interest, laziness, and sometimes complete utter immaturity that has plagued him everywhere he has gone. It really shouldn't come as much of a surprise to us that our "hero" is really just up to his same old tricks.  He did it at Inter, he did it at Man City, and now he is doing at Milan.  Why always you Mario?  Because you do it to yourself, you wear out your welcome and instead of having bloggers and fans talking about how awesome you are, we are sitting here pondering if it would be easier to move forward without you.  This one is on you buddy.

I said it a few days ago, and it wasn't the first time.  We are in fact selling Mario, he is a incredible to watch, but as someone else problem.  Let him be someone else frustratingly inconsistent mercurial talent (wow, that's a a lot of adjectives!)  This team needs to build a foundation and while everyone wants to believe Mario is the type of player you can it with, the real single person that needs to believe is Balotelli himself and he simply doesn't .  More concerned with the love if his life, his pet Pig, and wishing referee's a Merry Christmas in jest.  His twitter deck is filled more with nonsense than football, in fact one would venture to guess if you didn't know who he was, you would be hard pressed to realize he is in fact a footballer.  Sure, it has been said he practices for hours, but that is no longer something to applaud.  Cristiano Ronaldo is, was and continues to be the first on the practice pitch day in and day out, and off it, he may as well be a monk.  Mario just doesn't get it, he doesn't understand that talent is a gift that needs to be refined, there have been footballers like him before, most often strikers, with all the talent in the World and none of the dedication to support it.  Ronaldinho, Adriano, and Cassano all come to mind, all having spent time in Milan and all having been ushered out for having worn out their welcome, it may be Mario is soon added to that list.

As much as I don't want him to go, I don't see any other option.  He is Milan's most sell-able asset, and while I want him to go to sleep tonight after reading the news and dedicate himself fully to AC Milan, it isn't going to happen.  If anything this will only make matters worse and the ticking time bomb that is Mario Balotelli will reach the point of no return.  Where does he go?  Chelsea seems like the ONLY place, to be reunited with Mourinho for a year or two before that two becomes a problem.  Milan can and will move forward without him, SES and Pazzini can have room to grow and flourish and without Mario the team can open up a bit.

At the end of the day, it was fun while it lasted, but things didn't work out the end.  He hasn't been sold yet, but I can't help but think this is the beginning of the end.