Latest news with #MarioBalotelli
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Baller League Legends ratings: John Arne Riise and Balotelli shine but Arsenal cult hero gets a 1/10
MOUSSA DEMBELE is perhaps best known for being the toughest opponent your favourite player has ever faced - or the player who was the best any ex-Spurs star has ever seen. So when he was announced to be playing at the O2 Arena alongside Mario Balotelli, Ravel Morrison and John Arne Riise, fans came flocking. 6 The former pros lined up against KSI, Chunkz, George Clarkey and more in what was a spectacular Legends vs Influencers match decided by Niko Omilana missing a crucial penalty. SunSport's LLOYD CANFIELD rated the legendary players performances… JENS LEHMANN - 1 Unfortunately age catches up with all of us, and it seems to have done so with once-invincible goalkeeper. Failed to stop a number of shots that he got a hand to, but the 55-year-old was simply too slow to react to most of them - though one admittedly was a screamer from EmanSV2. PASCAL CHIMBONDA - 5 Didn't blow any minds with his performance, but wasn't really poor either. Pretty standard showing from the Barclaysman defender who would've been a blast from the past for most watching. 6 JOHN ARNE RIISE - 10 Wow! He's still got that left foot rocket in his locker, let's just say that. Hit the crossbar with a thunderbolt from range which alerted the keeper, before crashing home a screamer in the dying moments to level the scoring and send the game to penalties. Textbook Riise - Liverpool can save themselves a pretty penny on signing Milos Kerkez and just bring this beast back instead. LUKE CHAMBERS - 5 Much the same as Pascal Chimbonda, Chambers didn't really stand out what so ever and was largely overshadowed by the bigger names on the pitch. Mostly forgettable. JAY-JAY OKOCHA - 7 Scored a classy header that was unfortunately ruled out by the referee, it was the same Okocha we saw against Arsenal all those years ago - just much older. A legend of the game who still gave it his all and tried to entertain the crowd with a few silky touches and delicate passes. Didn't have the pace or engine he once possessed, but still impressed overall. MOUSSA DEMBELE - 9 The man of the moment looked like he still had it, running the show in the middle of the park for his time. You could still see echoes of the player he once was, impossible to get the ball away from and such a powerful presence with the ball at his feet. Dominated for large parts of the game and still had the silky feet and ability to pick a pass that he always had. 6 RAVEL MORRISON - 5 The ex- Manchester United wonderkid probably would've had a better rating were it not for the brilliance either side of him. Good on the ball and came close with a header that was flicked towards goal. Didn't blow anyone's socks off, but it was a solid performance from the former Red Devil. LEE TRUNDLE - 4 The highlight of his showing was sending KSI tumbling to the floor after a collision, but it must be said he gave it his all pulling off some of his trademark skills. The Football League cult hero was an entertaining watch, but didn't seem to have the end product or cutting edge he needed to get the better of the Influencer defenders all that often. MARIO BALOTELLI - 8 The man that most were excited to see, it was just a pleasure to see Super Mario back on the pitch with a ball at his feet. The ex- Liverpool and Manchester City striker still had a bit too, with some silky touches and passes, and a goal to boot! There was no trademark celebration or boasting from a man who has clearly matured since his playing days - but a showing more reminiscent of a classy Italian midfielder. Stuck around and took pictures with fans and players alike, which was lovely to see.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Baller League LIVE: Legends vs Creators match updates plus latest from blockbuster Final Four night
THE Baller League Final Four night is taking place TONIGHT! Deportrio, MVPs United, Yanited and SDS FC are the four remaining teams in the hunt for the title. Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards ' side topped the league standings at the end of the regular season and will face Sharky's team in the semi-finals. While Yanited and MVPs United will contest the other last-4 clash. During Final Four night, fans will also be treated to a Legends vs Creators match, which features the likes of KSI, Chunks, and Mario Balotelli.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Controversial ex-Leeds owner accused of 'killing' historic Italian club where Andrea Pirlo and Sandro Tonali came through as they face being kicked out of pro football
A controversial former owner of Leeds United has been accused of killing a historical Italian club after it went bankrupt. Brescia, who finished 15th in Serie B last season, have been set to compete in Serie C next term due to financial issues that have seen them, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, fail to register the club. It is suggested that there are £2.5million of unpaid debts at the club, putting the future of the 114-year-old club in serious doubt. The club is currently owned by former Leeds chief Massimo Cellino, who owned Leeds between 2014 and 2017 and was a controversial figure during his time in charge. He bought Brescia after selling Leeds, with La Gazzetta dello Sport writing that the 68-year-old has 'deliberately killed' the club. The side, which are the former club of a number of legendary players in the game, have been unable to register in Serie C due to the debt not being paid, meaning they are set to play amateur football next season. Brescia are the former side of the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Sandro Tonali - with the former Newcastle midfielder plying his trade there between 2012 and 2021. Other names to have played for the club include Pep Guardiola, Luca Toni, Mario Balotelli and Roberto De Zerbi. In their history, Brescia have played 23 seasons in Serie A - most recently in the 2019-20 campaign. But their financial situation has nosedived under Cellino, who continues to make enemies in the football world. While at Leeds, the Italian seemingly accidentally sacked manager Brian McDermott, later claiming he had asked for the couch to be replaced, not the coach. In 2014, the Football League said Cellino had failed the owner's test required to acquire a football club, before the decision was overturned on appeal. He would later clash with McDermott again when the coach took a holiday, claiming the club had 'no manager' before he made a number of coaching changes. He went through managers quickly, before being disqualified by the Football League in 2014 having been found guilty of tax evasion by an Italian court. He returned to the club in May 2015. That month, he branded manager Neil Redfearn 'weak' and 'a baby', before again changing bosses. He was later disqualified again, before clashing with fans over the sale of the club. He also tried to ban Sky Sports from entering the ground, had his ban lifted again after being acquitted of tax evasion, and eventually sold the club to Andrea Radrizzani in May 2017. Away from football, he was arrested in February 2013 for attempted embezzlement and fraudulent misrepresentation after an investigation into the construction of the Stadio Is Arenas. he was held in custody for two weeks with no further action taken. He had two prior criminal convictions from 1996 and 2001.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Iconic Italian football club where Pep Guardiola and Mario Balotelli played goes bankrupt and faces boot from league
They are joined by another club facing bankruptcy GAME OVER Iconic Italian football club where Pep Guardiola and Mario Balotelli played goes bankrupt and faces boot from league Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ITALIAN club over 100 YEARS OLD is set to go extinct after being declared bankrupt. Brescia - in the second-division Serie B - was left in debts over £2.5million and have been unable to pay them. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Roberto Baggio and Andrea Pirlo during theit time with Brescia Credit: Getty 3 Pep Guardiola, pictured here in 2001, also played for Brescia Credit: Getty 3 Mario Balotelli had a year with the club Credit: Getty Images - Getty As a result, they have been gone bankrupt and look set to go extinct after 114 years of history. Recognisable names such as Roberto Baggio, Pep Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni Marek Hamsík, Mario Balotelli and Roberto De Zerbi all played for the club. Balotelli spent a year with Brescia after signing in 2019 - scoring five in 19 games but he left after the club's relegation. Brescia is owned by Massimo Cellino - who was in chagrge of Leeds between 2014 and 2017 - before buying the Italian side. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Pep's the word Grealish told his Man City career is OVER and he can go for cut-price fee But he had a troubled tenure in Yorkshire and left amid fan protests and much discontent. Brescia were promoted to Serie A in 2019 but were relegated in the very next season. Things went from bad to worse this campaign after they were deducted four points amid their financial woes. It saw them relegated to Serie C - but owner Cellino has not registered them in the wake of failing to pay off his debts. Brescia are now the only Italian side facing bankruptcy and expulsion from the league. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Spal, once of the Serie A, said in a statement: 'With great regret, the owners of Spal announce that the club will not participate in the 2025-26 Serie C campaign. 'It is a painful epilogue that arrived after numerous attempts to find concrete solutions that could guarantee the continuation of the project. 'Unfortunately, the current conditions do not make that possible. "In the last four years, the owners made significant financial efforts, investing €50m in liquidity, with €12m alone in the last season, in an attempt to relaunch Spal and give the city of Ferrara a team suited to its history and passion. 'However, the results were not satisfactory, nor proportional to the level of investment.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Iconic Italian football club where Pep Guardiola and Mario Balotelli played goes bankrupt and faces boot from league
AN ITALIAN club over 100 YEARS OLD is set to go extinct after being declared bankrupt. Brescia - in the second-division Serie B - was left in debts over £2.5million and have been unable to pay them. 3 3 3 As a result, they have been gone bankrupt and look set to go extinct after 114 years of history. Recognisable names such as Roberto Baggio, Pep Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni Marek Hamsík, Mario Balotelli and Roberto De Zerbi all played for the club. Balotelli spent a year with Brescia after signing in 2019 - scoring five in 19 games but he left after the club's relegation. Brescia is owned by Massimo Cellino - who was in chagrge of Leeds between 2014 and 2017 - before buying the Italian side. But he had a troubled tenure in Yorkshire and left amid fan protests and much discontent. Brescia were promoted to Serie A in 2019 but were relegated in the very next season. Things went from bad to worse this campaign after they were deducted four points amid their financial woes. It saw them relegated to Serie C - but owner Cellino has not registered them in the wake of failing to pay off his debts. Brescia are now the only Italian side facing bankruptcy and expulsion from the league. Spal, once of the Serie A, said in a statement: 'With great regret, the owners of Spal announce that the club will not participate in the 2025-26 Serie C campaign. 'It is a painful epilogue that arrived after numerous attempts to find concrete solutions that could guarantee the continuation of the project. 'Unfortunately, the current conditions do not make that possible. "In the last four years, the owners made significant financial efforts, investing €50m in liquidity, with €12m alone in the last season, in an attempt to relaunch Spal and give the city of Ferrara a team suited to its history and passion. 'However, the results were not satisfactory, nor proportional to the level of investment.'
