Mario Balotelli held a rare Press conference today ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifier with Malta, covering subjects such as racism, arrogance and his biggest regret.

The striker is a man of few words, but sat down with the media this afternoon at the Coverciano training ground to prepare for Tuesday’s match.

“I’ve never had a big head. I do not consider myself to be the best in the world, nor the worst. I am me and that is enough,” said Super Mario.

“Thanks to the Italy squad and especially the Euros, now fans of other clubs are starting to like me too. I can see from the way they act around me.

“I spoke to my father after the Brazil draw and he told me off because I missed so many goals. Now a big game awaits us in Malta and we want to do well because that game will mean a lot for our World Cup qualifying.

“The Nazionale has something special, something more, and I am happy that the squad is getting younger. I have been changing for a while, it’s just that before you couldn’t see the improvements.”

There has been a lot of talk about potentially bringing Roma captain Francesco Totti out of international retirement for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

“It would be truly an honour to play with Totti, as he is a true phenomenon and champions like him are always welcome. Right now I am focused on this Azzurri experience, then I want to concentrate only on Milan.

“I’m happy to be Stephan El Shaarawy’s friend and teammate, as we’re together almost all the time. I’m glad to have him in my life and will try to help him with anything he’ll need.”

Balotelli has caused controversy many times in his career and was asked if he had any big regrets.

“In my life I would only avoid doing one thing again: I wouldn’t have thrown the Inter jersey to the ground.”

The incident effectively marked the end of his career with the Nerazzurri, as at the final whistle of a Champions League game in 2010 he took off the shirt and threw it down.

Fans, teammates and Coach Jose Mourinho were furious with reports Marco Materazzi had pinned him to the locker room wall afterwards.

When Milan played Inter last month, Balotelli was subjected to some racist abuse from his former fans.

“Racism does make me annoyed, angry and disappointed. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be enough improvement in this area.

“I agree with Prince Boateng’s speech at the UN, as to escape from racism we all have to contribute together.”

http://www.football-italia.net/32254/balot...-biggest-regret

According to various outlets, AC Milan superstar Mario Balotelli reportedly proposed to his 22-year-old girlfriend with a ring made out of tin foil.

A friend of Balotelli's girlfriend, Fanny Robert Neguesha, told the Daily Star, “it was a very spontaneous moment. She was bowled over.”

The couple have been spotted together during AC Milan matches and live in Italy following Balotelli's transfer move from Manchester City this past January.

News of Balotelli's marriage proposal comes just before an interview with Italian TV show ''Le Iene,'' to be aired on Sunday, where Balotelli denies some of the many stories about his time at Inter Milan and Manchester City. The Italian striker talked about his will to become the greatest player in the world and his desire at times to be just ''a normal guy.''

Balotelli says the players he admires most are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But unlike that trio, the Italy striker has never been in the running for world player of the year.

''It's my fault,'' Balotelli said. ''Sacrifice counts for a lot in sport. From a young age, I couldn't do the normal things that the boys of my age get to do. Maybe you have a nice car or a nice house, but at times you just want to be a normal guy and you can't.

''I want to be the strongest player in the world and score a lot of goals. To do that I have to improve in every area.''

Balotelli's desire to be a normal guy is seemingly at odds with his flamboyant lifestyle and his car wrapped in military camouflage. However, the 22-year-old insists the majority of the stories written about him are false.

Balotelli said the infamous story of him setting fire to his own house with fireworks was false and also denied getting into fights with Manchester United fans and wearing Milan socks in training while playing for Inter.

He also said the only club fine he received was after City won the Barclays Premier League last season and he went back to Italy instead of celebrating with the team.

''There are certain people who really don't know how to make money in life and therefore try to take advantage of others,'' Balotelli said. ''Gossip is one thing, but to invent stories is close to criminal.

''There are more important things than gossip. Many stories are invented about me, too many stories, almost everyone uses me, and I'd say about 0.01 percent of the gossip is true.''

Balotelli did admit to throwing darts at Manchester City youth players and to commissioning a bronze statue of himself for his house in Italy. The former Inter Milan star has been fortunate to have trained under some of the best managers in the world, having worked with Jose Mourinho at Inter and Roberto Mancini at City.

Balotelli famously got into a training-ground bustup with Mancini shortly before his €20 million ($27 million) transfer to AC Milan.

''I rarely hear from Mancini,'' he said. ''I had fouled someone and he got angry, that's all. We made up afterwards. Who do I prefer between Mancini and Mourinho? As a person Mancini, in football terms Mourinho.

''I argued a lot with Mourinho, but I also remember great moments of joy, in which we laughed. We worked hard with him and played with great intensity, because that was what he wanted.''

Balotelli has impressed since his return to Italy and has scored five goals in five games.

Doesn't seem so cocky as people make him out to be. I believe that for one to become the best..he should really think he's the best(in training everything). Yes, being egotistic is wrong and it may start a chain of lazyness. But, what I'm referring to is confidence in oneself and knowing that he can be the best in the world. If he doesn't have that confidence or aspiration then he will never be a great player. Just my thoughts.

(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555506_529110447131733_1845123832_n.jpg)

Balotelli has been included in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2012.

The Milan and Italy striker, who was featured on the publication’s European edition cover in November, has been selected in the Icon sector of the magazine’s countdown.

The January signing will fly out to New York on April 23, with club Vice-President Adriano Galliani and agent Mino Raiola, to attend an event organised by Time.