Despite having an injury plagued season, the former Italian international is coming through for his side when he sees the field. Adana Demirspor are tenth in the Turkish Super League and are losers of three of their last 5 games.

Still, Balotelli has a way of relaxing the mood, this time being filmed setting off a firecracker inside his team’s locker room.

Balotelli sets off firecracker

The incident in question was recorded by one of Balotelli’s teammates, who was all chuckles as the former Manchester City striker threw the projectile towards a clear area of the dressing room.

Balotelli covered his ears, and the firecracker went off as some of the teammates began to laugh. Balotelli has a long history of antics, from firing air guns in public, throwing darts at youth team players and turning up to a female prison to have a “look around”.

Balotelli also famously set his home on fire when he was lighting fireworks inside his residence. Balotelli also famously tried to backheel a goal but missed during his Manchester City days in a friendly against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Mario Balotelli also has a tattoo of “Black Power” above his eye and a cross right under it. The meaning of the new tattoo is not known although the MB could be his initials and 459 could allude to his jersey numbers and the 9 position he has played in his great career. It is also his Instagram username.

Balotelli has always been the brunt of the media for his extravagant lifestyle and in your face comments. The former Liverpool striker is now in Turkey playing very well this season.

What became of Mario Balotelli?

After rather unsuccessful stints at Brescia and Monza, Balotelli reignited his career at Turkish side Adana Demirspor. It is there that Balotelli has scored 11 goals in 25 games this season and is under contract until 2024.

Despite his good form in Turkey Balotelli was left off of the Italian team that failed to qualify for the World Cup against North Macedonia.

Even though he had a successful stint atInter Milan, where he won Serie A and UEFA Champions League titles before he joined Manchester City, Balotelli created a famous rivalry with the Nerazurri shortly after he left the club and eventually signed for lifelong rivals AC Milan.

However, his career had a decline since then and now he’s playing for Turkish club Adana Demirspor at 31. But Balotelli believes that, in his prime, he was at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mario Balotelli suggests he was just as good as Messi and Ronaldo

“I missed some chances to be at that level, but I am 100 per cent sure that my quality is the same level as these people, but I… I missed some chances, you know? It happens,” Balotelli told The Athletic.

“And nowadays, I cannot say I’m as good as Ronaldo, because Ronaldo won how many golden balls (Ballons d’Or)? Five? You cannot compare yourself to Messi and Ronaldo, nobody can. But if we’re talking about only quality, football quality, I have nothing to be jealous of them, to be honest.“

Balotelli regrets leaving Manchester City

Even though his statement is bold, to say the least, Balotelli did play at an impressive level during his time at Manchester City. That’s why he regrets leavingthe Sky Blues in 2013.

“I think that was my biggest mistake, to leave City,“ Balotelli said. “Even in the year when I left, I played very well in Milan for a year and a half, but after that, I had some problems. And now that I’m older, I know that I shouldn’t have left City at that time.“

In fact, many world-class stars have played in MLSsince the league’s first season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry are just some of the big names who have performed in the competition.Javier ChicharitoHernández, who joined Los Angeles Galaxy in early 2020, is the most recent big MLS signing.

That’s why we made this list of soccer starswho could come to Major League Soccer in the future. Some of them even publicly expressed their desire to join the league.

Daniel Sturridge

The Englishstriker, who was a member of the 2019 Liverpoolsquad that clinched the UEFA Champions League trophy last year, is a free-agent player. His contract with Turkey’s Trabzonspor -his last club- was terminated in March 2020.

David Beckham wants the forward to reinforce Inter Miami‘s attack next season. Also, Sturridge said he interested in joining the MLS in the future. However, there are European teams that will try to sign him too.

Luis Suárez

Which team would not like to have Luis Suárez in attack?The Uruguayan striker knows that he is problably living his last season at Barcelona and, as a 33-year-old player, doesn’t look with bad eyes a move to the MLS.

His compatriot Edinson Cavani rejected Inter Miami’s offer to join the team, so Suárez will surely be one of Beckham’snext targets. Even Seattle Sounders’ Nicolás Lodeiro talked in late 2019 about the possibility of seeing Suárez in the MLS in the near future: “(Suárez) wants to come to MLS. He is always asking me about the league. Sooner or later he’ll come to MLS”.

Antonio Valencia

Former Manchester United player Antonio Valencia could also join the MLS in the neat future. Apparently, the Ecuadorian received offers from the Major League Soccer, Argentina and Italy after finishing his contract with Liga de Quito.

However, the MLS would be his favorite choice. Valencia had even talked to his former teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney about the MLS and the possibility of playing there, in 2019.

Gonzalo Higuaín

This could be Gonzalo Higuaín‘s last season at Juventus. The Argentine striker is one of the main targets of many MLS teams for the next transfer window, and a move to the Major League Soccercould be a wise and attractive choice for him.

Los Angeles Galaxy are one of the teams that will try to convince Higuaín to join the club next season. Some rumours also linked the striker with Inter Miami, but DC United seems to be the main competitor, as his brother Federico Higuaín plays for the team.

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli might be one of the most controversial players in the world, but nobody can’t deny his talent. The Italian forward is looking for his best form at Brescia after the competition hiatus and some MLS teams have already asked about his current contract situation.

One of the interested teams are Los Angeles Galaxy, as Balotelli would not extend his contract with Brescia. Rumours have linked the striker to many MLS teams in the past years.It will only be a matter of time to see if he finally decides to join the league.

James Rodríguez

David Beckham wants to build an Inter Miami side capable of fighting for the MLS Cup in the comming seasons, and he is already trying to convince world-class players to join the team. And one of his desires is to sign Colombia’s James Rodríguez.

The attacking midfielder does not have much playing time at Real Madrid and a move to the Major League Soccer would guarantee him a leading role at any team. However, some Premier League sides, such as Manchester United, are also interested in signing the Colombian player for next season.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Let’s get something straight: Cristiano Ronaldo has a contract and will stay with Juventus. However, it doesn’t mean that he could not move to the MLS sometime in the future. The Portuguese superstar is still showing all his scoring abilities every time he plays for the Italian side.

Orlando City starNani, Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, said there’s a chance to see CR7 in the MLS, as they have talked about that possibility. But the truth is it will not happen any time soon.