From the Guardian Wed.
Mario Balotelli has praised the way "the Premier League has declared war to racism" after being spared the possible ordeal of playing in front of the Juventus crowd that has abused him in the past.
Balotelli will not be involved in Manchester City's Europea League tie in Turin tomorrow, partly because the team have already qualified for the next stage of the competition, but also because the manager, Roberto Mancini, is mindful of the problems that occurred there when the striker was playing for Internazionale.
The issue of racism in Italian football resurfaced last month when Balotelli was repeatedly booed playing for his country against Romania and the 20-year-old, despite his recent disciplinary problems, has concluded he did the right thing leaving for England, where "the culture of integration is much more widespread than in Italy".
He said: "The day I arrived at Manchester City it was three black boys who asked for my first autographs, and I presented them with my white cap. I am proud to be black and Italian. I've learned from my family that no one is 'upside down' simply because he speaks, prays or thinks differently."
Balotelli recalled that the first time he was abused came on his debut, at the age of 15. "It was 2 April 2006, I was playing for Lumezzane at Padua and, as I was still not 16, the club had to ask for special dispensation from the Italian FA and the authorisation of my parents.
"It was my first professional match and I entered the pitch with an indescribable feeling of joy … but as soon as I came on a choir of boos greeted my appearance. The happiness and excitement of my debut prevented me from hearing those boos, as if they shut my ears off, but with time I've heard very clearly all the insults and boos.
"They've always prompted me to try to score. I say to myself: 'You should not get angry when they shout at you; if you let it affect you, next time they'll get even worse.' But pretending that nothing has happened can be dangerous too."
Balotelli speaks out in the foreword of a new novel, Buuuuu, by the Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Luigi Garlando, the story of a 15-year-old boy, Jack, who is born with a rare disease and walks on his hands, surrounded by discrimination. In the book Balotelli is a friend of Jack's and helps him to be happy.
Juventus supporters once held up a banner about Balotelli with the words: "A Negro cannot be Italian." Another bearing the message "No to a multi-ethnic national team" was confiscated at the international match against Romania.
"I do not know what more I can say about these things," Balotelli said. "Maybe these people came to the game because they do not even have a television set at home. I've learned through experience that it is better to ignore them and pretend nothing has happened but thank God I do not have to know the people who are insulting me."
The Italian media, he said, should do more to identify the issue. "From Manchester, I'd prefer to see them debate the problem of racism more than they debate my girlfriends."
Well, if he's happy now I'd hate to see him when he's miserable.
