Former footballer Mario Balotelli made an appearance on BT Sport during the Champions League final alongside hosts Jake Humphrey, Rio Ferdinand, and Cesc Fabregas. Balotelli joined the panel to provide unique insight into the game having played for both Inter Milan and Manchester City in the past. However, during the broadcast, Balotelli refused to say who he was rooting for in Istanbul, much to the amusement of the hosts.
Humphrey, who was making his final appearance working for BT, asked Balotelli who he thought was going to win the final. Balotelli responded with a tongue in cheek “no comment”, amusing the other guests on the show. Humphrey joked that BT had paid thousands for Balotelli to provide his insight only to receive a “no comment” answer.
The panel discussion featured a few humorously awkward exchanges between the guests, with Balotelli also ignoring Humphrey when the host recalled an offer he made for the striker to join his side Norwich City over the summer.
Despite offering little insight into who would win, Balotelli did give advice on how Inter Milan should set up tactically and praised striker Lautaro Martinez’s performance on the field. He said, “The Italian game is more defensive. If I was Inter, I would let City play and try to counter-attack. I love the fact that he (Martinez) battles, every ball he has is like a battle, but at the same time he has very good technique.”
Balotelli has a colorful history in football, including well-documented feuds with fellow guests on the show, Ferdinand and Fabregas. Indeed, Ferdinand recalled how he took issue with Balotelli celebrating Manchester City’s victory in front of United fans during a derby game in 2011. Balotelli responded that he was celebrating towards City’s fans and that the incident ended on the pitch.
In conclusion, despite Balotelli’s appearance on BT Sport providing minimal insight into the game, his presence on the broadcast drew attention. While his refusal to state who he was rooting for may have left some viewers disappointed, it showcased his quirky personality and drew amusement from the other participants on the show.
