Video: Balotelli subbed after outrageous botched backheel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VwVeCgcRs

Bonkers Mario Balotelli outdid himself in the crazy-but-entertaining stakes yesterday after a botched backheel attempt a few feet from goal against the LA Galaxy.

With wantaway stars Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor part of forward options that include the goal-shy Edin Dzeko, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has largely had to place his faith in the occasionally brilliant but eccentric Mario Balotelli.

Thirty minutes into a meaningless friendly for the club's US pre-season tour, the Italian striker failed to repay that faith in hilarious fashion.

While we've seen Balotelli struggle with a bib on occasion and heard of his schoolboy bully-confronting and dart-throwing exploits in the past, the fiery 21-year-old's latest exploit is set to become a YouTube sensation.

Just a few feet from goal and with the net seemingly at his mercy, the player instead decided to an attempt a backheel into the net. Evidently, he's been watching a few two many UAE penalty shootouts in recent days.

In Balotelli's defence, he may have known that he was offside while attempting the trick, but that excuse didn't wash with Mancini, who substituted him instantly for James Milner. The real question, however, is not whether the forward can ever clean up his act, it's whether we want him to.