Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has recalled an amusing story concerning Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli in an interview with CNN.
The Portuguese was reflecting on the difficulties posed by coaching the enigmatic 22-year-old when the pair were with Inter and shared an anecdote of their time together.
“I could write a book of 200 pages of my two years at Inter with Mario, but the book would not be a drama – it would be a comedy,” explained Mourinho.
“I remember one time when we went to play Kazan in the Champions League. In that match I had all my strikers injured. No Diego Milito, no Samuel Eto’o, I was really in trouble and Mario was the only one.
“Mario got a yellow card in the 42nd minute, so when I got to the dressing room at half-time I spend about 14 minutes of the 15 available speaking only to Mario.
“I said to him: ‘Mario, I cannot change you, I have no strikers on the bench, so don’t touch anybody and play only with the ball. If we lose the ball no reaction. If someone provokes you, no reaction, if the referee makes a mistake, no reaction.'
“The 46th minute – red card!”
