Toure hails "committed" Balotelli

Tue, 07 Feb 12:57:48 2012

Yaya Toure has spoken of his admiration for his "misunderstood" Manchester City team-mate Mario Balotelli - and would love it if the Italian were able to play alongside him for the Ivory Coast.

Balotelli's antics both on and off the pitch have meant he has rarely been out of the headlines since joining City in 2010, and he is having a typically eventful season, which so far has featured a fireworks incident at his home, a sending-off at Liverpool and the four-match ban he is currently serving for an alleged stamp on Tottenham's Scott Parker.

The 21-year-old striker has also scored 12 goals for the Blues this term and midfielder Toure - who is on African Nations Cup duty at the moment with the Ivory Coast - has been keen to highlight the virtues of Balotelli, telling Goal.com: "If I could choose one City player to play for the Ivory Coast it would be Mario.

"Whatever you hear about him is just newspaper stuff and I wish I had been as committed as him when I was his age.

"He is such a powerful guy and his concentration levels are unbelievable.

"He is young, so sometimes one or two things he does are maybe misunderstood but for me it is all part of his charm. You cannot take away his quality on the field and in the end that is what really matters."

 

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. How do you know when Utd. fans are seriously starting­ to doubt Utd. winning the premier?
    When the usually­ logical Doctor Smith starts to become illogical and­ make clownish nonsensical
    statements that are full of­ jealousy and full of vitriolic bile!

    From anton, on Wed 8 Feb 5:52

  2. Very nice and honest of Toure to say that about his­ team-mate Balotelli!
    Nice to see our team has got each­ other's backs!
    One thing everyone should remember­ about Balotelli is that he is only 21 yrs old with a­ lot of success and
    money coming to him!
    I remember­ when I was 21 yrs old and I also got up to a lot of­ mischief!
    Don't know if I would handle it as well­ as Balotelli if I had all that success and money coming­ to me
    even now,never mind at the wild age of 21!
    So­ well done Balotelli,keep it up!

    From anton, on Wed 8 Feb 5:47

  3. Sad sad rags don't u wish u had him instead of that­ pube headed moron wooney!!! lol

    From stuart, on Wed 8 Feb 5:39
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    'Committed' is right - and so he should be!

    From dave.fleming, on Wed 8 Feb 1:40
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    "He is such a powerful guy and his concentration­ levels are unbelievable.
    "He is young, so­ sometimes one or two things he does are maybe­ misunderstood but for me it is all part of his charm.­

    So Toure, are you sending him flowers and chocolates?

    From pmok171, on Wed 8 Feb 1:40

  6. Birds of a feather do indeed flock together, they all­ talk dung and they all keep posting on here the boring­ sad rag b'astards. Now flock off and take bird­ brain Dr Graham J Smith DD with you.

    From Cully, on Wed 8 Feb 1:17

  7. Yer one sad fuc''ker you doctor graham

    From sellobic, on Wed 8 Feb 0:56

  8. Why all the rags on here?
    'Cause they care not for­ the club they "support" just interested in­ City.
    Sad sad bunch.

    From Stephen, on Wed 8 Feb 0:12

  9. Graham,we dont care what you think.You are a rag­ commenting yet again about City.you are a clown who has­ more identities than brain cells.Balotelli shows lots­ of similarities to Cantona, who was a truly great­ player but also a petulant bullying thug,who kung fu­ kicked a supporter,amongst many strange things.Now­ being an intelligent person i would not suggest,he go­ back to France,but i will suggest you go back to­ Zimbabwe where you could cozy up to that other circus­ freak,Robert Mugabe.c.t.i.d.

    From Andy V, on Tue 7 Feb 23:55
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Birds of feather flock together. The dung fly will­ always find the dung endearing.

    From pmok171, on Tue 7 Feb 23:43
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I wouldn't touch Balotelli with a barge pole he has­ spent more time this year serving bans and being­ injured than actually playing. Maybe he is a clown­ but for that I would go to the circus. I want to see­ a player who would rather kick the ball than trying to­ kick an opponent or stamping on his head. Go back­ to Italy you might have a chance of completing a game­ there.

    From Dr Graham J Smith DD, on Tue 7 Feb 22:55

  12. balotelli's talent is mouth-watering. why wenger­ always prefers the ones like theo who takes six years­ (and counting) to improve is bewildering. no doubt when­ mario is soon hailed as the world's best, arsene­ will be telling us that he had him for trial at arsenal­ but decided he was too weak. change your specs arsene.

    From sanchez.santos, on Tue 7 Feb 21:51

  13. Misunderstood? All that and more. Mario has a lot of­ quality... and a lot of maturing to do. You love to­ hate him, but he does entertain on the pitch.

    From Chester B. Arthur, on Tue 7 Feb 21:29
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