qs! wrote:
And thats why I said he was reaching. Berlusconi is a terrible human being so I don't want to be defending him but there is nothing to back up the claim he's got a problem with Balotelli based on race.
No, I genuinely think he has a problem with Balotelli based on his mixed heritage. It's not like Berlusconi's views on race and citizenship are unclear in any way. His own political party have made the rejection of a multi-ethnic Italy into one of their biggest selling points. I think he was willing to set his opinions aside as long as "the family's little nigger", as his own brother (who also happens to be Milan's vice president) put it, added class and excitement to a Milan side that the Berlusconis themselves had systematically gutted on stars. Eighteen months later Milan have had their worst season in modern history and the star signing Balotelli - one of few players who did something noteworthy last season, as it were - is the one taking all the blame from the management. Be serious. It's not a coincidence.
... Either way, let's move on here. It was a dry comment made in passing and not meant to spark a huge debate. I suppose it was poor form to mention it to begin with.
