Balotelli fed up with abuse
Reuters - Friday 11 December 2009, 10:10
ROME - Arsenal target Mario Balotelli is fed up with the criticism and abuse that comes his way at Inter Milan and just wants to be left alone.
The 19-year-old, who is black, has been the target of racist chants and abuse by Juventus fans and there were fears that last week's head-to-head between them would be suspended.
Juve fans, who were largely well behaved in their 2-1 win over Inter, argue their chants aimed at the forward are because of his confrontational attitude rather than his colour.
Balotelli's attitude has also been criticised by coach Jose Mourinho.
"I let all the talk about me slide away, although sometimes I'd like to say: 'leave me in peace, let me live,'" the Italy Under-21 forward was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"After a while you get fed up. You can't read the same things, almost always negative, every day."
Balotelli's sublime talents were on full display on Wednesday when Inter moved into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 home win over Rubin Kazan.
Balotelli set up Samuel Eto'o's opener before scoring a thunderous free kick.