MARIO BALOTELLI was reunited with old foe Rio Ferdinand ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League final against Inter Milan on Saturday evening.
City cult hero Balotelli, 32, was once a bitter rival of Manchester United legend Ferdinand, 44.
And the pair came to blows at the end of Man City’s FA Cup semi-final victory over United in 2011.
Ferdinand took umbrage with the Italian appearing to gesture towards the end of Wembley where the Red Devils supporters were sat.
But more than a decade on, the bitter rivals locked eyes once more in the build-up to Man City vs Inter Milan.
During BT Sport’s coverage early on Saturday afternoon, Balotelli made a surprise appearance alongside presenter Josh Denzel, Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas, and Ferdinand.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
And while it threatened to be a tense situation between the two ex-Manchester-based players, they rose above it by embracing and hugging it out.
Social media reacted positively to the reunion, with one person saying: “This is a big day!”
But another ripped into Ferdinand for his tame reaction to Balotelli’s appearance, adding: “Rio s******g it there.”
Balotelli will watch two of his former clubs compete for the European crown in Istanbul.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
He spent three years with Inter Milan, scoring 28 goals in 86 games and clinching the Treble under Jose Mourinho.
He then left to join Man City in 2010 where he claimed the Premier League and FA Cup.
Since then, he has endured a journeyman career for the likes of AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia, Monza, Adana Demirspor, and most recently Swiss side FC Sion.
But 13 years on from his Treble with Inter, he could watch Man City achieve the same feat with victory over the Italian side.
A Champions League triumph for City would see them replicate the Treble won by United in 1999.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
