Mario Balotelli Kept It Real When Asked About Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo Comments

Mario Balotelli has addressed previous comments where he compared himself to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The former Manchester City striker is renowned as one of the high-profile examples of a playing having all the tools and not fulfilling his potential.

Nowadays the Italian striker is plying his trade in Turkey with Adana Demirspor, having previously played for the likes of Monza, Brescia and Marseille.

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He's been in fine form in the Turkish Super Lig, scoring 10 goals in 20 appearances.

But 12 years ago, after being crowned the Golden Boy winner, Balotelli was so sure of his ability that he said that Messi was the only player "a little stronger” than him.

Then, during his eventful at City, he told the dressing room that he felt he was on the same level as both Messi and Ronaldo, who have 12 Ballon d'Ors between them.

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Academy graduate Nedum Onuoha was one of the players in that dressing room and the former City defender asked Balotelli to reflect on the bold statement.

“I missed some chances to be at that level,” Balotelli told Onuoha in a piece for the Athletic. 

"But I am 100 percent sure that my quality is the same level as these people, but I… I missed some chances, you know? It happens.

"And nowadays, I cannot say I’m as good as Ronaldo, because Ronaldo won how many golden balls (Ballons d’Or)? Five? You cannot compare yourself to Messi and Ronaldo, nobody can.

“But if we’re talking about only quality, football quality, I have nothing to be jealous of them, to be honest.”

Balotelli scored 30 times in 80 appearances for City, becoming the only Italian player to win the Premier League in 2012.

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He ended up returning to English football with Liverpool but only scored once in the league.

The 31-year-old admits he should never have left City and believes he could have even been in Ballon d'Or contention had he stayed put.

"I think that was my biggest mistake, to leave City,” he committed.

“Even in the year when I left, I played very well in Milan for a year and a half, but after that, I had some problems. And now that I’m older, I know that I shouldn’t have left City at that time.

“All these years seeing City improving, improving and improving. I could have been here like Sergio Aguero for a long time.

“If I had my mindset now when I was at City, probably one golden ball (Ballon d’Or) I could have won, I’m sure about this. But you know, when you grow up, you mature more.”