Vincenzo Montella reveals why he clashed with Mario Balotelli in August, days before the Italian striker’s move to Sion.
The Italians spent one year together at Adana Demirspor, but the striker’s exit in September was somehow shocking as he had publicly clashed with his coach in his final game with the Turkish club (VIDEO).
Montella told Sky Sport Italia that Balotelli is ‘surely’ the most unexpressed talent he’s ever coached and revealed why they clashed.
“We established an honest relationship. He wanted to leave and had made it clear constantly for two months to everyone,” the ex-Fiorentina and Milan coach said.
“One day he wanted to play at all costs and I told him that, to me, he was not in shape to start. However, he promised me that he’d have been focused if he was subbed on, but I wasn’t happy when he was introduced, so I told him.
“We are still in contact, I salute him, I know he is scoring goals in Switzerland so our rapport has not changed.”
Montella is currently one of the most successful Italian coaches abroad as his Adana Demirspor side are the current Turkish Super Lig with 21 points in 10 games and the second-best attack with 21 goals scored so far. Fenerbache sit second, one point behind Montella’s men with a game in hand.
Balotelli joined Paolo Tramezzani’s Sion on the deadline day in September and has scored three goals in his first five appearances in the Swiss Super League.