SHOCKER: Mario Balotelli punches team-mate after being substituted in Turkey

Published on: 30 August 2021

Italy player of Ghanaian descent Mario Balotelli punched his own team-mate after the striker was substituted in a Turkish top-flight league match over the weekend.

The controversial player took his bizarre antics to another level when he landed a heavy blow on his bemused Adana Demirspor team-mate after he was substituted during Friday's game.

Balotelli was in action for his side as the lead attaker when coach Samet Aybaba decided to shake things up to help secure victory.

The incident happened on 56 minutes when the coach took off Balotelli which sparked the Italian maverick's strange anger.

The striker was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents. He threw his socks and shinpads down in furious anger, before gesticulating angrily with his arms and shouting.

Balotelli's teammate, was watching the horror show and then the Italian turned to him. He landed a right-hook on his shoulder.

To be fair to his team-mate, however, he didn't react when the petulance continued inside the dugout.

It was a great move by Aybaba, despite the former Manchestwer City player's reaction to the incident.

Three minutes later, Adana was leading as Britt Assombalonga, a former striker for Middlesbrough Forest and Nottingham Forest, opened the scoring.

The goal seemed to secure his side's first victory of the season, but Konyaspor scored seven minutes later.

After his release from Monza, the Italian Serie B side, Balotelli was granted a free transfer to Demispor.

After signing a three-year contract with Turkey, the 31-year old was greeted by thousands of adoring fans.

He joined a few of his friends at Adana where he is still searching for his first goal.

Assombalonga is joined by Gokhan Inler (Leicester City Premier League winner), Benjamin Stambouli (Spurs flop) and Younes Belhanda (Moroccan ace), all of whom are part of the Blue Lightnings.

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