LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Mario Balotelli has taken to Instagram to respond to criticism from former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Italian forward shared a photo of himself lifting the Champions League trophy from the 2009-10 season when he won it with Inter Milan, tagging Ibrahimovic’s account in his story.
Ibrahimovic had previously criticized Balotelli during a festival organized by La Gazzetta dello Sport, saying, “When a kid has the opportunities to make the most of his talent and does not take them, that is a pity.
READ ALSO: AC Milan In Talks With Zlatan Ibrahimovic For Sensational Return
“Balotelli had so many opportunities, and he missed all of them; he just threw his talent away. This is the truth.”
Balotelli’s reaction was seen as a direct dig at Ibrahimovic, who never won a UEFA Champions League title in his otherwise illustrious club career.
Balotelli, currently playing for Turkish club Adana Demirspor, has only made two appearances in the Turkish league this season, while Ibrahimovic retired from professional football at the end of the 2022–23 campaign.