I've had a few "moments of awesomeness" over the past few months. AJ scoring his first goal for England and playing so well, MJ sprinting quickly in training, Kompany's ascension as a first team CB, etc. All moments that give you a fuzzy feeling and remind you why you love this infuriating game so much.
I have 4 players who I know will be our bedrock in the future, and I seem to care about more than others. MJ for obvious reasons, AJ because the kid CAN be one of the really top footballers in the world if he works at it and is a young English lad, Kompany because he's probably the most intelligent footballer I've ever seen and is another who will be the absolute best in the world in a few years.
Finally, there's Balotelli. I remember watching his first ever appearance for Inter and seeing a n arrogant kid with all of the potential in the world. I watched as the Juve and Inter fans wrecked him over there, how he started acting out because of it, and how Mourinho basically told him that he's finished as a footballer. Him coming to City is the most exciting transfer for me since the takeover. Keep your Robinho deals, your Tevez deals, your Yaya deals, to me this was the one that I really wanted. When Mancini came, half of my enthusiasm about it was that I KNEW that Balo would follow.
This kid is a special talent, and without the constant abuse that he received in Italy, we'll see a world star here. I'm talking about one of those guys who will be mentioned in 50 years time when they are talking about the best players of their generation. The guy has absolutely everything about his game, everything.
It's well known and has been argued forever about how I class the best player in the world. I class Rooney above Messi and Ronaldo simple because I class versatility above tricks. Rooney could play happily anywhere from CB to ST and do it well. There are no weaknesses in his game, and I think that that makes him the best football player in the world. Others disagree with my rating system, but that's how I do it.
Anyway, on my rating system, Balo has the potential to be the absolute best, above Rooney.
His tackling isn't great and he's very much a striker when he defends. That's the only bad point of his game that I can think about.
His development will be the most interesting player development we've ever seen. He truly does have the potential to be a Ronaldo type winger, or a Drogba type striker. He could be the absolute best at either of these roles, depending on how we build him.
I can't wait to see him in a City shirt again, playing regularly. This guy could grow to become a hero that we'll be telling our kids about. The troubled young genius who made his move to us and spearheaded our success with an air of fire, arrogance and pure unadulterated talent. I remember him playing in one of his first ever CL games for Inter. He was playing at Old Trafford and the crowd was pretty heavy that night as Ronaldo was been his usual cuntish, sneering self. I specifically remember Ronaldo trying a little trick, then Balo nearly putting him in the third tier, taking the ball off of him, charging down the wing, beating Evra using a little shoulder drop then hitting the post. At the end of that game, Balo went and asked Ronaldo for his shirt. When he refused, he said "Don't worry, you'll be asking for mine in a few years" and walked off. Let me reiterate, this was pretty early in his career but not only did he have the arrogance but also the talent to back it up.
These types of players either end up wrecking their career ala Robinho, or turn into absolute greats ala Ronaldo. Mark my words, this kid will be a £50m player after the next World Cup.
