Just to offset it a little bit here is a rather sweet article about him and his mother (who you may have seen hugging after the Germany game).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...imple-hug.html
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Yet there is also the huge degree of philanthropy, the campaigning against the use of child soldiers, the work he has done in Brazil to help destitute children and the women of the favelas and the strong interest he has in the World Wildlife Fund.
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Maybe it is the presence of the diminutive Silvia that is making the difference.
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Watching the pair embrace in Poland’s National Stadium brought to mind a story told by Cristina, one of the Balotellis’ three natural children and another big influence on Mario’s life.
She is a journalist and recalled how he was once stopped from going to football training because of his bad behaviour at home. He ran away, making the journey on foot — only for the coach to tell him when he finally arrived that his mother had called and he had to be sent straight back home.
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He also grew up the only black kid in a white neighbourhood, encountering racism early in his life. Inevitably — and tellingly — because of the disruption Balotelli grew up craving attention. He never wanted to be left alone, always wanted company.
For years he could only go to sleep if Silvia held his hand. “He does things his own way,” Cristina said and although that is undeniably true it doesn’t mean there is a hard shell to his life. It does not need a psychologist to explain much of Balotelli’s extrovert behaviour.
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