Mario Balotelli has forgiven Giorgio Chiellini for the criticism, as the defender sent him a signed copy of the book. ‘Just tear out the pages where you talk about me!’
The former Italy teammates clashed in public last week when Chiellini released an autobiography and gave an interview in which he called Balotelli “a negative person” who didn’t help his squad during the Confederations Cup.
Mario Balotelli has forgiven Giorgio Chiellini for the criticism, as the defender sent him a signed copy of the book. ‘Just tear out the pages where you talk about me!’
The former Italy teammates clashed in public last week when Chiellini released an autobiography and gave an interview in which he called Balotelli “a negative person” who didn’t help his squad during the Confederations Cup.
He also referred to Felipe Melo as “the worst of the worst, a bad apple,” but the defender has now made up with Balotelli thanks to a conversation brokered by TV show Le Iene.
They delivered a shirt that Balotelli signed with the dedication: 'Even if you unexpectedly stabbed me in the back, I still love you, man.' The crew then set up the videolink chat.
“It’s the first time in my life that you messed up and I didn’t!” joked Balo at the start.
“I envied you! Because in life you have to make mistakes to improve,” replied Chiellini.
“I’m perfect, then. But there has never been a war, guys! I’ve told you the whole time,” added Balotelli.
The Juventus captain confessed to “disagreements,” but said he had planned to tell Balotelli about the contents of the book and to leave out any negatives would’ve “seemed false and hypocritical. I take full responsibility.”
Le Iene, who were moderating the conversation, asked precisely what happened in that 2013 Confederations Cup, a situation that was alluded to in the book.
“No, wait, I remember now! That I got angry because we were losing to Brazil and Gigi [Buffon] told me: ‘We’re not Brazil you know’. That thing there?” said Balotelli.
“OK, come on, that’s not a serious thing. I replied mainly because, I’ll tell you the truth, I didn’t expect from Giorgio, in the sense that, I’m not a negative person. I’m someone who always jokes, I replied because I care about you, because if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have replied.”
Chiellini suggested everyone learns with age and he should write another page in the book clarifying it, but would at least send a copy to the Brescia striker with a special dedication: ‘To Mario, I learned a lot by making mistakes and will continue to do so every day. I wish you the best and I hope to see you soon on the pitch.’
Balo responded by jokingly asking him to first tear out the pages referring to him, but when asked to write his own book, noted “it would be too long!