Balotelli: I'm better than Fabregas & Rooney, and who is Wilshere?

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli claimed after winning an award naming him as the best European player under the age of 21, that he is better than Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, and has never even heard of the player voted in second place in the award, Jack Wilshere. He went on to say that Lionel Messi is the only previous winner of the award who is better than him - but only a "little" better.

In reference to 18 year-old Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, Balotelli said:

'What's his name? Wil...? No, I just don’t know him, but the next time I play against Arsenal I'll try to be careful. Maybe I could show him the Golden Boy trophy and remind him that I won."

He may be excused for this, as Wilshere has only recently broken through into the Arsenal first team - making a total of 16 league appearances for the Gunners. But he has been very impressive - justifying being voted second out of every European player under 21. However, for Balotelli to claim he is better than Fabregas and Rooney? Not so excusable.

Talking about the previous winners of the award - including Rooney and Fabregas, the Italian said:

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

'I am delighted to receive the award, but who else would have won if not me? Two years ago I finished sixth and then fourth in 2009. Now it's my turn, no?

I think it would be very safe to say that Balotelli's ego is quite large, and he is certainly not short on self-confidence. He is full of the talk. But where is his proof to support his statements? He would have to go a long way in the next few years to prove that he is even in the same league as the players he has mentioned.

Rooney has won 3 Premier League titles, 2 League Cups and one Champions League trophy, as well as being awarded countless individual awards. While Fabregas was named club captain at 21, he went on to win both the UEFA European Championship in 2008, and the biggest prize in world football, the FIFA World Cup in 2010, both with his country, Spain. Both are considered very special players with superb ability and desire to help their team win trophies. The big headed Balotelli on the other hand seems to me as someone far more interested in making himself look good for his own personal gain.

Yes, he is a good player, and yes he probably did deserve the recognition and award, but he is such an arrogant, self-centred, egotistical person, its hard to have much respect for him, especially when he is putting fellow professionals down.