Compiled by Ranjika Perera
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Adana Demirspor’s forward Mario Balotelli (on left) taunting Besiktas Coach Sergen Yalcin on the pitch after scoring a goal on Tuesday (23)[/caption]
Adana Demirspor’s forward Mario Balotelli taunted Besiktas Coach Sergen Yalcin on the pitch after scoring a goal on Tuesday (23).
Balotelli ran toward Yalcin after his goal and pointed at his head, referencing Yalcin’s comments in the past that the Italian “has no brain.”
Balotelli’s 79th-minute strike helped his side secure a 3-3 comeback draw against Besiktas. He posted a video of the incident on Instagram, showing his strike from distance followed by his pointed celebration
The story behind this goes way back to 2013.
While playing for Manchester City in a pre-season match against LA Galaxy in 2013, Balotelli infamously tried a back-heel finish that went awry.
That attempt infuriated City Manager Roberto Mancini, who immediately took Balotelli out of the game. Working as a pundit at the time, Yalcin said of the forward: “He has no brain. If I were in Mancini’s shoes, I would fire him!”
* Ronaldo becomes highest earning footballer
Cristiano Ronaldo’s big-money move to Manchester United has helped him leapfrog Lionel Messi to become Forbes highest earning footballer this year.
Ronaldo is set to earn $ 125 million (Rs. 25 b) before taxes during the 2021-22 season, with $ 70 m (Rs. 14 b) of that coming from his salary and bonuses for his return to Old Trafford.
Messi, meanwhile, sits just behind him at $ 110 m (Rs. 22 b) with his new Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Neymar and Kylian Mbappe rounding out the top four.
With $ 55m (Rs. 11 b) of his earnings coming from commercial deals, Ronaldo is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world when it comes to sponsorship earnings.
Only three other active athletes make more commercially than the Manchester United star: Roger Federer ($ 90 m / Rs. 18 b), LeBron James ($ 65 m / Rs. 13 b), and Tiger Woods ($ 60 m / Rs. 12 b)
In total, the 10 highest-paid footballers are set to collect pre-tax earnings of around $ 585 m (Rs. 117 b) this season, up from last year’s total of around $ 570 m (Rs. 114 b).
* Suarez’ brace put Atletico on top of the league
Defending champions Atletico Madrid left it late to beat Getafe 2-1 on Tuesday.
At the brink of half-time, Jan Oblak’s conceded an own goal to put Getafe on the lead. After dominating second half, Luis Suarez scored two late goals, in the 78th minute and the 90th, to win it for Atletico Madrid.
Other results:
Rayo Vallecano 2 - 1 Athletic Club
Celta Vigo 2 - 0 Levante
* Inter Milan continue good form
The reigning Italian champions beat Fiorentina 3-1 in their midweek clash at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead in the 22nd minute. A strong second-half saw Matteo Darmian, Edin Dzeko, and Ivan Perisic score goals for Inter.
Other results:
Bologne 2 - 2 Genoa
Atalanta 2 - 1 Sassuolo