BRESCIA owner Massimo Cellino has astonishingly referred to Mario Balotelli as “black” and “working on clearing himself”.
The seemingly racist jibe comes after Balotelli has received an unbelievable lack of support from his own club.
Brescia beat off interest from Flamengo in the summer to sign Mario BalotelliCredit: EPA
The former Manchester City striker was the subject of vile racist chants from Verona fans during their match with Brescia earlier this month.
By no means the first time that the Italian international has had to put up with disgusting taunts – Balotelli decided he had had enough, booting the ball into the crowd.
He threatened to leave the field, and the game was halted for several minutes.
Unbelievably, however, Brescia’s own fans then branded their own striker as “arrogant”, siding with Verona supporters in the row.
And now club chief Cellino has weighed in on the matter.
The former Leeds United owner said: “He’s black, what can I say?
“He’s working on clearing himself.
“But he’s having a lot of difficulty.”
Brescia have since released a statement on the matter, reading: “Concerning the declarations released this afternoon by President Massimo Cellino, referring to our player Mario Balotelli, Brescia Calcio evidently deals with a paradoxical joke, clearly misunderstood, released in an attempt to defuse excessive media exposure and with intent to protect the player himself.”
Understandably, since the incident, Balotelli has reportedly not seemed himself on the training ground.
And coach Fabio Grosso sent the 29-year-old home after just an hour for looking disinterested.
Balotelli was then dropped for the weekend clash with Roma.
He has only played seven times this season, scoring twice – one of which coming in that match against Hellas Verona.
Balotelli now seems likely to leave the club in January, having only joined in the summer.
He had been heavily linked with a move to recent Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo – before instead opting to sign for Brescia.
Balotelli has endured a frustrating time at BresciaCredit: EPA
Mario Balotelli walks off pitch following racist abuse by Verona supporters
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
