Wednesday (Wensdi) Gossip

Wed 16 Nov 2011, 8:40AM
Posted by Peter Ferguson

It used to be that Roberto Mancini was the Italian who made news with what he wore. But that was before he signed a certain striker from fashion capital Milan ...


Did Mario decide that he just didn't like the new Azzurri shirt in last night's friendly against Uruguay? Hard to tell really, but his shirt tale certainly amuses Yahoo.com's columnist.

Brooks Peck (Crazy name, crazy guy?) writes: "For unknown reasons that can only be explained as 'Mario Balotelli,' the striker appeared for the second half wearing Italy's old shirt after he had already been wearing the new one in the first half.

"Mario played five minutes in the old shirt before he was booked for a mid-air collision with Diego Perez and told to go change by the ref. Balotelli did so and even apologized to Perez for the collision.

"I like to think Mario's shirt mix-up was something he did purposefully as a comment on the ridiculous frequency with which new kits are unveiled and sold to loyal fans.

"After Italy lost the match 1-0, Mario expressed his non-fashion related frustration. From Football Italia: 'I am angry with myself, the ball didn't want to go in the net.

"'We're going to Poland and Ukraine to win, otherwise it's the end of the world!' Consider that a warning."

Over at tribalfootball.com, one headline reads "Napoli's Cavani: Balotelli's just like me!" Wishful thinking, surely?

Their story quotes the Napoli ace, due to face City in next week's Champions League tie: “City boss Roberto Mancini asks of Balotelli what I am asked to do at Napoli.



<BLOCKQUOTE>


I am similar to Balotelli. We are modern strikers and I think Italian football is similar to English football





</BLOCKQUOTE>
Meanwhile, in other City striker news, goal.com brings us Sergio Aguero's reaction after his late winning goal in Colombia lifts Argentine spirits.

They quote Kun: "Today we begin a new stage. We must go slowly, but we gained a very important victory in the heat and humidity.

"In the first half we played well, but in the second, with my introduction, we attacked further. We have plenty of quality, but it was also important for us to fight back and show our attitude."