Balotelli hits back at Ibrahimovic after 'wasted talent' comment

Cameron Smith

15 Oct 2023 21:18 BST
3 min read

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mario Balotelli — © ProShots

Mario Balotelli has hit back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the former Sweden international claimed the ex-Inter and Manchester City striker “threw his talent away.”

Article continues under the video

Balotelli and Ibrahimovic spent a brief period together as team-mates at Inter Milan, and Zlatan believes that Balotelli never lived up to his potential as a footballer.

The Italian is currently plying his trade Adana Demirspor in Turkey, while Ibrahimovic retired from football earlier this year after returning to AC Milan in 2020 following a successful stint in the MLS.

What has been said?

Ibrahimovic attended the Trento Festival of Sport and was interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport at the event. When asked about Balotelli, the former Barcelona and PSG forward replied, via GOAL: “When a kid has the opportunities to make the most of his talent and does not take them, that is a pity.

“Balotelli had so many opportunities and he missed all of them, he just threw his talent away. This is the truth.”

The former Italy international did not take kindly to this criticism and responded by posting a picture of him holding the 2010 Champions League trophy, which he helped Inter win under Jose Mourinho.

© Instagram - @mb459 - Mario Balotelli's Instagram response to Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Balotelli posted this image on Instagram Stories with three red love hearts and he also tagged Ibrahimovic.

The Swedish football legend famously never won the Champions League during an illustrious playing career that saw him win 32 trophies in total.

Balotelli made eight appearances during Inter’s run to the 2009-10 Champions League title, scoring one goal and providing one assist. In total, the former Italy international contributed 11 goals and nine assists in 40 appearances that season before he left to join Man City.

He has scored two goals in two appearances for Demirspor so far this season. As for Ibrahimovic, he retired from football at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.