Mario Balotelli is looked upon as a one of Italy's most talented players of recent times. The young hitman burst on to the scene in last season's Coppa Italia when Roberto Mancini was at the helm of the reigning champions, bagging a brace against Juventus to put Inter through to the next round of the tournament.

Since José Mourinho's arrival last summer, the Ghanaian-born forward was supposed to flourish under the coach's preferred 4-3-3 formation. However, things haven't quite turned out as planned as the forward has only appeared eight times this season.

Since the Portuguese tactician took over the reins at the Appiano Gentile, he has blasted his prodigy's attitude for his lazy attitude during the training sessions and accused him of not even putting up 25 percent of his ability.

Mourinho has dropped Balotelli on numerous occasions as a disciplinary act and not only that, the Inter tactician humiliatingly sent the starlet to play with the Primavera team to learn his lesson. Nothing seemed to have worked as the player grew even more frustrated and handed in a transfer request which was shot down by Inter supreme Massimo Moratti.