Mario Balotelli And Arsenal: A Disaster Waiting To Happen?

A number of media outlets have been reporting that Arsenal are interested in bringing in Italian hit man Mario Balotelli from AC Milan in a reported £25 million deal. Whether this is purely speculation to fill the papers or a genuine move waiting to happen, it brings up some serious questions, not least why Balotelli is the kind of player Arsenal should be chasing. If the rumours prove true and the deal is done, it would signal a change in attitude at the London club.

The reason this is potentially so big is because Balotelli has a history as being a troublemaker. During his time with Manchester City, he was in the news more often than not for all the wrong reasons. True, if anybody can tame this guy it’s Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, but is it worth the risk? You may not realise, but actually a very similar situation happened once before. Balotelli’s agent is a man by the name of Mino Raiola, a guy with a reputation as one of the best in the business. Another of Raiola’s clients is one Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Paris St. Germain.

Jun 20, 2014; Recife, Pernambuco, BRAZIL; Costa Rica midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda (17) makes a sliding tackle on Italy forward Mario Balotelli (9) as Costa Rica defender Oscar Duarte (6) looks on during the first half of a 2014 World Cup game at Arena Pernambuco. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

When Ibrahimovic was but a youngster making waves at Malmo FF with his goals scoring from outrageous angles and general trickery, he had a meeting with Wenger in London. Raiola wasn’t there on that day, he had not yet met Zlatan, but the story goes that Wenger offered Ibrahimovic a trial, to which the young Swede replied that he’d do it. His representatives felt there was no need to though, and so a trial and subsequent move never happened. From there, Wenger took the team and general culture of the club in a different direction. Rarely since that time has an outspoken or generally unruly player played for the team. Had Zlatan joined the Gunners, things may have been different in that respect, but the Arsenal we know today is full of technical players who generally do not receive negative press.

However, Balotelli is a throwback to the Zlatan of before in some ways. True, they do not play very similar games, except for the fact that they are strong men who can lead an attack. But they are both extremely outspoken, misunderstood and unique individuals. Their talent is without question, it’s their attitude and mental stability that raises concerns. Arsenal have just won the F.A. Cup with more modest and quiet pros like Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla, a personality like Balotelli can wreck that sort of budding team chemistry.

Looking at it from another angle, Balotelli is quite a similar player to current Arsenal striker Oliver Giroud. Balotelli is more technical and a better player yes, but Giroud continues to improve, having bagged a goal at the World Cup himself. He is arguably Arsenal’s most outspoken player and general bad boy, his love life appearing in the papers more than Wenger would like. Giroud wasn’t happy being behind Karim Benzema in the France squad, and a similar thing would happen at Arsenal if Balotelli arrived, more than likely prompting him to leave.

In any event, now would seem the perfect time to strike and take Balotelli. Although he loves Milan, he has made no secret of his disdain for the continued racial problems which dog the sport over there. Add to that the fact Milan finished seventh last season and have recently hired unproven coach and Milan legend Filippo Inzaghi to lead the team next year, and it’s easy to see why he would be uncomfortable in his present situation. Milan are in the midst of a rebuild back to former glories, does Balotelli really want to spend a number of years trying to help re-establish a team?

Balotelli may yet join Arsenal, and it could prove an astute signing. Getting the best out of him would help Arsenal’s title credentials no doubt. But it does raise the question, is Wenger changing his philosophy? Not since that failed attempt at trying to lure Ibrahimovic and subsequently moving away from that kind of player after that failed attempt has Wenger gone in for a player like this. Does it mean that he has really changed his ways and acknowledged some of his stubborn beliefs were wrong? Perhaps it is all a ruse to scare supposed target Gonzalo Higuain into joining the team before they look elsewhere. Either way, it is a move that would certainly ruffle a few feathers, both in England, and within Arsenal’s team.