Manchester City soccer stars played a rotten prank on bad-boy striker Mario Balotelli, leaving a stinking fish in his luxury car while he was on tour in the US.
The eccentric striker came back from the Barclay’s Premier League side’s tour last week and picked up a fishy whiff around
his $225,000 white Maserati sports car.
The Italian ace opened the passenger door and found a sportsbag behind the seat packed with kippers.
The bag was inside the car for more than two weeks and the car could now be an insurance write-off because the upholstery reeks so badly of fish.
“Mario had his head in his hands when he realized he was on the receiving end of a training ground prank,” a source siad.
“The smell nearly made him sick. It was revolting. There were flies in the car and the leather seats in the back had rotting fish all over them.”
The source added, “He has absolutely no idea who is responsible as he has wound up so many of his teammates over the past year.
“It will not put an end to the pranks, though. He is already formulating plans for revenge.”
It is not the first problem the 20-year-old has had issues with his car. The former Inter Milan player rattled up $15,000 in parking fines and had his car impounded 27 times in less than a year.
Balotelli exchanged words with midfielder Yaya Toure over training ground pranks last year, but the tide is turning.
Balotelli earned the ire of his teammates and coach Roberto Mancini after spoiling a scoring opportunity with an unsuccesful trick shot against Los Angeles Galaxy.
Less than a week later the Italian admitted he is miserable living in Manchester during an interview with a TV station in his homeland.
In the past week, the striker’s socks were cut up and hot Tabasco sauce put in his food.
by Buford Balony
