Balotelli scathing tirade at Vieira: ‘Wants to be centre of attention’

A handout photo made available by Genoa CFC of Patrick Vieira (R), the new head coach of Genoa, during his first training with the team in Genoa, Italy, 20 November 2024. EPA-EFE/GENOA CFC PRESS OFFICE

Mario Balotelli launched a scathing tirade at Genoa and especially at coach Patrick Vieira. ‘He was almost afraid of me, that he’d be forced to play me if I scored a goal. He just wants to be the centre of attention, or I get on his nerves.’

The striker had joined Genoa as a free agent in October 2024, but the tactician who had wanted him there – Alberto Gilardino – was fired just weeks later.

It meant Vieira took over at Marassi and the pair already had some history, both as teammates for Inter and Manchester City, and then as a coach at OGC Nice.

Balotelli made just six appearances at Genoa, all of them off the bench, and was then frozen out completely.

Balotelli blames Vieira for Genoa failure

“When he arrived, he called and asked how I was, about the team, it seemed like he had good intentions, but then he put me on for only a few minutes the first couple of games,” Balotelli told Centrocampo podcast, via Tuttomercatoweb.

“So I went to him, asking if there were problems. I wasn’t asking to play 90 minutes, but he was using me for 2 or 4 minutes at a time. Then he took me to Lecce and I stayed on the bench, against Milan there was a free kick at the 86^th minute and he didn’t call me.

“He assured there were no problems, but preferred to put on players who run. Look it’s natural Andrea Pinamonti starts, he works hard for the defence, but it’s not right that I play 2 minutes. I am sure that I can solve some games. I think the problem was that he just didn’t like me, it wasn’t about football.”

Balotelli continued his rant, claiming that Genoa directors did not back him after the arrival of Vieira and the sudden change in fortunes.

“The club didn’t have the balls to say anything. I always looked for a real reason behind this, I wrote him a long message one day, I’ll publish it eventually. He never gave me an answer, nor even looked me in the eye, so I found myself forced to train alone.

“The club said Vieira was afraid I wouldn’t accept to have little playing time, which is rubbish. Just admit I get on your tits! We had two discussions, he kept saying I would create problems, but when have I ever really done that? Everyone loves me in the locker room, I have no problems with anyone.

“If I train with the squad, I might raise the level, I don’t think the situation is so extreme that I don’t run enough for his style of football. I had thought of leaving in December, but I wanted to see this through.”

Balotelli had made some Instagram messages accusing Genoa of lacking respect and he reiterated that belief in this podcast interview.

“I didn’t think the people I dealt with at Genoa would be so disrespectful, just on a human level. Now I expect them to never speak to me again for the rest of my life. They had seven months to say something, they lacked respect without reason or apology.”

The accusations are all aimed squarely at Vieira for the failure of this experience with the Rossoblu.

“I played for 4 minutes against Napoli and nearly scored a goal. It felt like Vieira was almost afraid of me, that if I scored a goal, he’d have to play me. He wanted to be the saviour of Genoa, it irked him that the journalists would always ask about me.

“I felt really let down, in every respect. And yet when we played together, I never had any problems with Vieira. I played regularly at Nice, occasionally he’d take me off and say I needed to run more, but I scored a load of goals, why change everything now?

“He couldn’t accept this, I would give him advice, and he could’ve listened instead of telling me to get lost. It’s just the desire to be a protagonist in my view, he wants to be at the centre of attention. I can see no other reason. Or I just get on his nerves.”

Balotelli is now a free agent after his contract with Genoa expired.