Today’s Champions League play-off draw paired Napoli with Mario Balotelli’s Nice, and the striker has an emotional history at the San Paolo.
While his last appearance in Naples was a brief cameo for Milan, coming on in the 87th minute of a 1-1 draw, Super Mario has personal history with Naples.
Having been substituted in a 3-1 defeat at San Paolo in February 2014, the Italian international broke down in tears on the bench.
Today’s Champions League play-off draw paired Napoli with Mario Balotelli’s Nice, and the striker has an emotional history at the San Paolo.
While his last appearance in Naples was a brief cameo for Milan, coming on in the 87th minute of a 1-1 draw, Super Mario has personal history with Naples.
Having been substituted in a 3-1 defeat at San Paolo in February 2014, the Italian international broke down in tears on the bench.
Social media rumours erroneously claimed he had been racially abused, while many in the English media simply put his reaction down to Mad Mario.
While Balotelli was surely disappointed with the development of the game and his own performance, the real reason for his tears soon emerged
That week, after a long paternity row, it had been confirmed that the striker was a father, and his former partner lived in the city, making that week the first time he had seen his daughter, Pia.
Balotelli had wanted to score and dedicate the strike to her, and was overwhelmed when he was unable to do so.
It must be said though, that even on the pitch he doesn’t have the greatest of records against the Neapolitans.
Balotelli’s first-ever missed penalty was saved by Pepe Reina at San Siro, and while he scored in Naples for Manchester City in 2011-12 Champions League, the Partenopei ultimately won 2-1.
Having rekindled his career with Nice, scoring 17 goals in 28 games last season, Super Mario now has the chance to take les Aiglons into the Champions League.
For a player who is often accused of being uncaring or lackadaisical, you can bet walking out onto the San Paolo pitch will mean the world to him.