Sweet revenge! Balotelli scores a great goal against the manager who once called him 'brainless'

Whatever Mario Balotelli is – he isn't dull! During a pre-season match in 2013, while he was still a Manchester City player, he infamously tried to score a backheel goal. He missed and made a fool out of himself. But he was never the one to shy away from such situations. What hurt him that day were the words of Turkish coach Sergen Yalcin, who was working as a television pundit at that time. Yalcin said that Balotelli "had no brain" for trying it. Eight years later, Balotelli and Yalcin met again…

Now at Turkish club Adana Demirspor, the former Italy international striker scored against Besiktas, managed by – you've guessed it – Yalcin. Not only it was a goal – but it was a sublime long-range rocket. As he was wheeling away to celebrate, Super Mario turned to Yalcin, pointed at him before gesturing as if to say "I do have a brain after all".

Much was said in 2013 about Mario's somewhat immature goal attempt. It may have been a preparation match in America, but then-Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini went wild and hauled his star striker off the pitch. 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!"

Balotelli's 79th-minute strike helped his side secure a 3-3 comeback draw against reigning champions Besiktas.

After the match, the dust did not settle. Asked about the event on the Vodafone Arena pitch, Yalcin said that it could be related to the striker's alleged disappointment at not joining Besiktas.

"It is the first time that I've seen a player doing such a thing to a manager. I could not understand why he did that, maybe the reason is that he did not join Besiktas last year. That shows his personality."

Balotelli also posted on his Instagram story after the game – just to hammer his point in.

"We have brain and especially we have balls and heart. Very big heart and we are proud of it."

There's never a boring day in the world of Mario Balotelli!

TURKISH SUPER LIG - Round 6

Tuesday

Fatih Karagumruk - Antalyaspor 0-0

Rizespor - Altay 1-2 (0-1)

/Bolasie 90 - Bjorkander 44, Bamba 73/

Besiktas - Adana Demirspor 3-3 (2-0)

/Montero 20, De Souza 43, Yilmaz 52 - Vargas 60, Balotelli 79, Assombalonga 90/

Yeni Malatyaspor - Sivasspor 0-1 (0-0)

/Goutas 70/

Wednesday

Gaziantep - Istanbul Basaksehir 1-0 (1-0)

/Demir 1/

20.00: (2.65) Goztepe (3.25) Hatayspor (2.70)

20.00: (3.80) Kayserispor (3.45) Galatasaray (2.00)

Thursday

17.00: (3.50) Konyaspor (3.35) Trabzon (2.15)

20.00: (1.43) Fenerbahce (4.50) Giresunspor (7.50)

20.00: (1.95) Alanyaspor (3.50) Kasimpasa (3.90)

***odds are subject to change