Caldirola: ‘Balotelli would just walk out of school’

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 21: Mario Balotelli of Genoa looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 21, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Mario Balotelli hit headlines throughout his career for his idiosyncratic approach to discipline, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that he was not great in school. ‘He’d just get up and walk out!’

The former Italy international is currently in the Genoa squad, albeit frozen out by coach Patrick Vieira and making only six brief appearances this season.

Balotelli started out in the Inter youth academy and one of his teammates was current Monza defender Luca Caldirola.

In the academy, the players also attend a specialist school, but it was difficult to keep Balotelli’s attention for long.

“Mario had incredible talent, but when he came to school, every now and then he’d just stop and say: ‘Tell you what, I’m off.’

“And he would just get up and walk out!”

The revelation came from Caldirola in an interview with the OCW Sport YouTube channel.

Caldirola and Balotelli affection for Mourinho

The coach of the senior Inter squad was Jose Mourinho, who had some of his own issues dealing with Balotelli.

“He was fantastic, but not the guy you see on television,” assured Caldirola.

“Mourinho was an actor, very good at shifting the attention, but working every day he was great fun.”

Because of a childhood passion for one club, Caldirola almost didn’t start his career path.

“A scout came to see me and wanted me to sign for Inter, but I was a Milan supporter, so my first reaction was to say to my father that I didn’t want to go. I was seven years old, so they convinced me.”

Now a rugged defender, Caldirola also went through a few different roles before finally finding his path.

“I played in goal to begin with, as my father was a goalkeeper and my brother had started there too, but then I became a striker. My hero as a child was Marco van Basten.”