Mario Balotelli quotes:

I turn to someone, I'm not sure, to God I think, but I never ask for anything. I would never pray to win a title; it makes no sense. I've never understood those who pray before a match. I simply give thanks for what I have received.

You can't delete racism. It's like a cigarette. You can't stop smoking if you don't want to, and you can't stop racism if people don't want to. But I'll do everything I can to help.

When I wasn't famous, I had a lot of friends, almost all of them Italian. The racism only started when I started to play football.

I know I have a responsibility as a role model to children and I try to fulfill that.

Racist people are few, in the minority. But you can do nothing to change them. You can talk, you can do what you want, but you can't do anything because they are just stupid people.

There are two metaphors for Mario the person and not Mario the footballer. I think I am a man, but I don't believe I need to say it. But I could also be Peter Pan because I do things my own way and I am free. So, yes, maybe I should say that I am Peter Pan - although I am much more of a man.

Sometimes I dream to be alone and that nobody would talk to me. But I understand that football is really important and that everybody watches it. When you're famous, you have to do photos or autographs, especially for the kids.

America is a great country. I've been in the south, in the center and in the north. I like it. Americans are very good people. There's just too much air-conditioning.

I would be ready to become a dad if I was with the right person. I'd like a boy, though. Because they're in charge.

The talent God gave me is beautiful and wonderful, but it is difficult because you are always facing other people keen to judge you. There are few people with such talent, so there are few able to judge what I am doing.

They say that abandonment is a wound that never heals. I say only that an abandoned child never forgets.

Rooney's good but not the best in Manchester.

People who know me, love me. People who don't know me love me too... or they hate me.

If I buy a Fiat Uno, I'll read that, for a man like me, a Ferrari was more suitable. If instead I buy a Ferrari, they'll write that I should have kept my feet on the ground and bought a Fiat. If I smile, I'm not serious. If I don't smile, I'm a rich sulker that doesn't enjoy having the most beautiful job in the world.

Manchester City, the club and the fans, they were amazing. But I'm sorry, the city wasn't that nice. I was all the time at home, and I didn't enjoy it. It was raining all the time. I was a little bit upset.

Sometimes in football you deserve to win but lose. Other times you deserve to lose or draw but you win. That is the game, and it's why I've always said you should never try to predict anything in football, especially in Europe.

My public image is absolutely not a fair reflection of who I am.

Yes, I think I am a genius, but not a rebel.

Occasionally, you feel like the only person able to win the match. So you take all the responsibility, you do too much, and you do something bad.

I believe I am more intelligent than the average person.

Mourinho is the best coach in the history of football.

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.

Even if I don't always behave as I should, this still doesn't explain why so many people have something against me. But you know how it is. A lot of people vent themselves by coming to the stadium to yell at me. I hope it's not racism. I tell myself that it's not racism; it's because I'm tough, and I repeat this to myself.

You speak bad of me, I score goals.

I know some players like being the centre of attention and I admit that when I first became a player I liked fame, too. But that feeling lasted only for three months. Then I realised what it was really like to be the centre of attention all the time. It isn't all good.

I don't follow politics; it doesn't interest me. So why should I vote?

I am different - if you can find another like me, then I will buy you dinner!

I'm a naturalized Italian, but I'm from Ghana. I was abandoned by my parents and adopted by two angels. I suffer with racism everyday. I'm the first black to wear the jersey of Italy. I'm not angry, but my life experiencies make me act differently from other people. Then, try to learn more before you criticize me.

I don't celebrate because I'm only doing my job. When a postman delivers letters, does he celebrate?

Is instinct in the head or in the heart? Off the field, I follow my good instincts which steer me in the right direction. Sometimes on the field my head leads me astray. That's what I believe.

To play in atmospheres that are intense is when I play my best football.

It surprises me how much children like me, you know? If they look at me as an example, I have a big responsibility.

If I go out in the street and one guy gets a picture, then someone calls the press to say Mario was there. The day after in the press, it's, 'Mario was there'. That's normal, I just walk in town like a normal guy.

Racism springs from ignorance.

I always wanted to play for AC Milan or Real Madrid. Real Madrid, of course, because when I was young, the players that played there were the top players. I was looking at Real Madrid as the best of the best. And AC Milan, they also had good players when I was young, so I looked at AC Milan the same way as Real Madrid.

What is important for me is that the people who know me for real know Mario how he really is. People who don't know me, they read newspapers and they watch TV. TV is made to give a lot of opinions... so I can't show the real Mario to everybody.

When I decide to score, I score. I know I am strong, but I believe it is not enough yet. I can kick fine, dribble very well, but I still have to improve.

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.

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.

For me, my mother is everything.

I am proud to be Italian because I was born in Italy, I grew up in Italy, I went to school in Italy and I have worked in Italy. I'm Italian.

I can win the Ballon d'Or, but only if Messi's level drops a bit. It will be very complicated to do so if he keeps up his current form. I really believe I can win the award, but there's not much I can do if Messi maintains this level.

I don't like golf. It's not for me, it's too quiet.

I don't like journalists and I hardly ever talk to them.

I have my life, my world. I do what I want, without annoying anyone.

I sent my Christmas wishes to him, but he didn't answer. He's the world's best coach, but as a man he still has to learn manners and respect.

I will not accept racism at all. It's unacceptable. If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to jail, because I will kill them.

Inside me I'm Ghanaian, and I'm proud to be African. But of course I'm Italian. I was born in Italy. I've never been to Africa in my life, but I will go one day.

Jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.

Mancini is lucky. He has an owner [Sheikh Mansour] who speaks little and asks only: "What do you need?"

There are few people with such talent, so there are few able to judge what I am doing.

When I lose my temper it's because I decide to. If I do something it's because I want to do it.

When I score I don't celebrate, its my job, does a postman celebrate when he delivers post?

When people talk about my business, my life, I'm really private. Maybe someone thinks I'm arrogant or something, but it's just me.

There's only one that is a little stronger than me: Messi. All the others are behind me.