The unforgettable memories of Balotell in the city of Manchester

Mario Balotelli is one of football's most controversial figures but he is the type of player top European clubs need. One of the major breakthrough is in career was when he joined billionaire club Manchester City in 2010/11.

- Mario Balotelli was signed by Mancini in the 2010/11 season from Inter Milan

- The Italian international scored 30 goals in 80 matches in three seasons

- The controversial striker won the FA Cup and the Premier League for Man City

Mario Balotelli is one of football's most controversial figures but he is the type of player top European clubs need.

One of the major breakthrough is in career was when he joined billionaire club Manchester City in the 2010/11 season for a fee of €21.8m from Inter Milan.

Balotelli reunited with his former coach Roberto Mancini and the Italian manager the Premier League was the perfect place to develop his talent.

During his first season at the club he led the Citizens to their first title in 35 years when the blue-half of Manchester clinched the FA Cup.

Balotelli was given the man-of-the-match award in the final match against Stoke City as City won by 1-0 win.

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The Italian striker went on to win the Golden Boy award for his performances for club and country at the age of 19.

In his first season at the Etihad he scored 10 goals in 28 appearances for Mancini's side coupled with the FA Cup title was an achievement for the 19-year-old.

The following season the Italian had a bitter-sweet campaign as he was part of the most memorable moment in the club's history as well as the most controversial time in his career.

In one of the highlights of City's triumph in the 2012/13 term, Balotelli scored the first two goals in the 6-1 thrashing of nosiy neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford.

After scoring the goal he celebrated one of the goal's showing the inscription "Why Always ME?" in his inner vest. Balotelli also scored City's goal in their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea that season.

However he had series of controversies that season including dragging a free-kick with teammate Aleksandre Kolarov then he was sent off on four different occasions.

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Mancini lost patience with his growing indiscipline and decided he was going to be benched in the remainder of the season.

However Balotelli was a second half substitute in the title deciding match against Queens Park Rangers and he provided the assist to Sergio Aguero who scored in the 94th minute to hand the Citizens their first league title since 1968.

In Balotelli's final season with the Manchester club he was fined by the management for his disciplinary record for the previous season.

He was fined with his two-week wages for missing 11 games in all competitions owing to the suspensions he got as a result of the yellow and red cards.

Balotelli left City as he signed for AC Milan for a fee of €20m in the 2013 January transfer window having won the FA Cup and the Premier League in his two and half years at the Etihad.

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Source: Naija.ng