Boban questions Balotelli’s mentality amid growing criticism.
Former AC Milan star Zvonimir Boban has launched a stinging attack on striker Mario Balotelli and insisted he “doesn’t understand what wearing the shirt means”.
The 23-year-old has been under fire in recent weeks after a string of disappointing performances as the Rossoneri have fallen off the pace for a top three finish.
Having missed a penalty during the draw with Genoa last weekend, Balotelli created controversy after the game with his comment on Twitter, while he has also reportedly been late for training for the past two days.
With Milan looking to get back to winning ways against Celtic on Tuesday night, coach Massimiliano Allegri will need his star striker on form, but Boban has questioned his desire.
“Let’s stop always talking about this Balotelli,” he told Sky Sport Italia, as reported by Football Italia. “In his life all he has done is sit on the bench at other clubs.
“He will always be smaller than Milan and Milan will always be bigger than him.
“In my Milan side he would have carried bags for players such as Marco Van Basten, George Weah and Andriy Shevchenko.”
However, Boban did not stop there in his assessment of Balotelli’s behaviour off the pitch, with growing speculation that he could leave the club in the upcoming January transfer window, or failing that, in the summer.
“He would have been slapped by people like Paolo Maldini, Marcel Desailly, Sebastiano Rossi, Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi for not arriving on time,” the Croatian added.
“His listless attitude demonstrates that he is unable to comprehend certain things with his brain, he doesn’t understand what wearing that shirt means.
“He should learn from Kaka, a boy who has won the Champions League, a World Cup, a Golden Ball. He’s certainly richer than Balotelli, yet he runs and works like a kid.”
Balotelli has scored three goals in eight games in Serie A so far this season, but despite his constant suspensions and dip in form, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted that he is not available on the transfer market.
The under-pressure transfer guru also stated that Stephan El Shaarawy is not for sale either, but conceded that he had been asked by a Premier League club about his availability.
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