This week saw the return of football and Jose Mourinho engage in some casual workplace sexism (allegedly). We won't concern ourselves with such frivolous matters though. We're more concerned with Angel Di Maria's written battle with Manchester United fans; Paulo Wanchope's fight with a security guard in Panama; and a shooting in Turkey. Mario Balotelli has been celebrating his 25th birthday and in Italy, financial irregularities have been called into question in Italy again...
Football Circus Clown Quote of the Week
"For me, that's not for me".
- Regular Clown Quote of the Week contributor, Paul Merson.
United Fan's Open Letter to Di Maria
Angel Di Maria wrote an open letter to Manchester United fans on his departure from the club. The letter was met with a widely critical reception from United fans, with many believing the letter was insincere and many even suggesting that Di Maria did not actually write the letter, rather had a member of his PR team write it on his behalf. The letter noted:
"When Manchester United chose me as part of their team, I felt extremely honoured because I knew what this club means and how it trusted me.
"Nevertheless, I'm aware things didn't work as we all expected and believe me, I feel really sorry about it.
"I can guarantee you it was not for trying. I did my best but football is not like maths: often a lot of things out of our control affect the way we feel and the way things turn out".
Now, a United fan has taken to Twitter to write a letter of his own to Di Maria, on behalf of all United supporters. The embarrassingly named but skilled letter writer, 'Stevie G's Red Card', wrote the following:
Costa Rica Manager Wanchope Fights in Stands
Derby legend and current Costa Rica manager Paulo Wanchope faces an uncertain future in charge of his country's national team after he was this week exposed for fighting in the stands at an Under 23 match against Panama.
Wanchope was in Panama City to watch the Under 23 team play a 2016 Olympic qualifier. Unhappy with the referee, the manager marched down the stands in an effort access the pitch and argue with the match official. He swung open a gate to do so and pushed a ball boy out of the way.
He wasn't finished there though. Before he could make it past the gate, a security guard approached from Wanchope's left. The incenced manager turned around and punched the security guard, only for the security guard to retaliate, resulting in the pair brawling. Unfortunately for Wanchope, the whole thing was caught on camera and quickly uploaded to YouTube.
Lucky Escape for Fenerbache Player Topal After Car Shot At
Turkish footballer Mehmet Topal had a lucky escape this week after his car was shot at. Topal had been training for his side Fenerbache and while travelling home with youth player, Mert Zeybek, his vehicle was shot at by an unknown gunman near a tollbooth.
Luckily for the players, the car's windscreen was bulletproof and prevented either of the two being harmed. Worryingly however, it is thought the shooting may have been carried out by a rival. fan. Last April, the Fenerbache team bus was shot at while on its way to Trabzon airport.
Fenerbache said of the shooting:
"This was a terrorist attack. We condemn these armed attacks on our players and hope justice will prevail. Our players Mehmet Topal and Uygar Mert Zeybek were fortunate to be travelling in a vehicle with bulletproof glass which prevented serious injury".
What's Mad Mario Upto this Week?
Balo has come in for criticism this week from fellow Italian and former West Ham striker, Paolo Di Canio. Also known as a bit of a hot head and seen as somewhat mercurial, Di Canio has made the bold prediction that Balotelli's career could be over. In an interview with Fox Sports Italia, Di Canio stated:
"I’m talking as a Coach.
"I think at some point you have to realise what it means to play with your teammates, sharing good and bad moments and it doesn’t seem like he is doing that.
"Many coaches have tried to change him. Mancini has been like a father to him, but even he won’t reunite with him at Inter.
"Mourinho understood immediately, he’s good at understanding players, and he realised that he could change him. Now he hasn’t got anyone to rely on.
"He’s still young, he’s physically strong, and he’s an incredible athlete, but he’s never taken advantage of his great potential.
"Sometimes in football you think you can just hog the ball, show off in some way and let your teammates run for you, but you can’t, football is about sacrifice, and a bond with your teammates.
"That doesn’t mean off the pitch in a bar, but being generous on the pitch. I hope he’ll recover, but I can imagine it’ll be very difficult, as he spends to much time on social media.
"It seems like he uses football to be a celebrity, rather than the opposite".
Di Canio could well have a point. Balo has posted no less than nine photos and two videos of himself to Instagram this week, including one in which he compares himself with Michael Jordan. He's got some catching up to do if he wants to be seen in the same light as the basketball legend.
One video uploaded featured Super Mario being covered in champagne, as he this week celebrated his 25th birthday. It would seem he still has an awful lot of growing up to do.
Italian Football Story of the Week
- Napoli President De Laurentiis Lambasts Lack of Financial Checks in Serie A
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has been on his soap box again this week, this time to criticise the lack of 'book checking' in Italy. De Laurentiis claims to have always been extremely vigilant when checking the books of Napoli, having taken over the side when they were bankrupt and plying their trade in Serie C. However in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, it seems De Laurentiis fears other clubs are not monitoring their own finances and he blames FIGC (the Italian football federation) president Carlo Tavecchio.
Said De Laurentiis:
"I am happy that important clubs like Milan, Inter, Fiorentina and Roma are strengthening their squads, but there is a problem.
"Nobody is checking the books at the Federation and Carlo Tavecchio is responsible for that, as his predecessor was in the past.
"Tavecchio told me there are three, at most six, Serie A clubs who have balanced books. In Serie B it’s a disaster. This is a bad way to progress.
"Michel Platini’s Financial Fair Play is uneven, didn’t last long and is fairly malleable anyway".
"Michel Platini’s Financial Fair Play is uneven, didn’t last long and is fairly malleable anyway".
Artist's Impression of the Week
- 'Super Mario Turns 25'; Balo celebrates birthday in style.
Football Recommendation of the Week
- First-Time Gaming Mums' Premier League Predictions (Marathon Bet); As entertaining as it is bizarre, this Marathon Bet promo pits two mothers against each other on FIFA 2015 as they play out the opening day Premier League fixtures.
Non Football Recommendation of the Week
- The Masterplan (Oasis); Maybe we've been too busy this week but nothing has caught our attention enough to recommend. We have however, rediscovered this great album by Oasis. Hard to believe the album is comprised completely of B-sides, especially considering some of the drivel they pumped out later in their careers.
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