'Balotelli Set Off Fireworks In My House'
by David KappelWith there being many stories about Mario Balotelli's crazy off-pitch antics, a former teammate of his has now revealed how the Italian once set off fireworks in his house.
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Balotelli is currently on the books of his hometown club Brescia, but could soon leave the Serie A side, with the latest reports linking him with a move to Brazil.
Almost everyone knows the story about the striker lighting fireworks in his own bathroom, but his former Manchester City teammate Micah Richards has now spilled the beans on how Balotelli once almost set his house on fire.
"He was like my soulmate, he was like my younger brother," Richards said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
"He used to love attention. He used to come over to my house... everyone knows the story of the fireworks in his house.
"But he actually set fireworks off in my house! Chasing me round my house, what are you doing! But I love him. I still speak to him, make sure he's alright. Top, top guy."
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Richards, who spent 10 years at City but was loaned out to Fiorentina during his final campaign under contract with the Manchester club, also recalled how Mohamed Salah impressed him during his first training session with the Serie A side.
"In the first training session [at Fiorentina], I was like 'this guy is going to be a star'," he explained.
"The only thing that's surprised me is how many goals he's scored. I knew he could dribble past people and make people look stupid.
"But I didn't think he'd reach the amount of goals he's scored, that's the only thing that surprises me.
"Player-wise, I knew he was top-level – first day he walked in, he was running rings round players."