In March 2010, he came under heavy criticism from Inter Milan fans after he publicly sported an AC Milan shirt. He was sent off four times during his two-and-a-half seasons at Manchester City and once threatened legal action after being fined two weeks’ wages for missing 11 games through suspension while at the Etihad
His antics off the pitch result in a list of incidents that someone who is very much in the public eye cannot get away with lightly. From the time he randomly turned up at a press conference in Italy where a new coach was being introduced, to setting fire to his own house with fireworks on the eve of the Manchester derby, throwing darts at a youth team because he was bored and even driving into a secure women’s prison claiming he was just having a look around. When caught by the police with £5000 on him, and asked why, he responded, “Because I am rich”.
All of these stories help to explain why he is seen as one of the most
exciting personalities in
modern football. He
may be feared for his
unpredictable
behaviour but at
the same time, his
image sells shirts.
That, together with
his undoubted talent,
exemplified in the
Euro 2012 cup final
against Germany,
suggests he will remain
a risk worth taking.
Stadium.