DOES FERGIE WANT BALOTELLI TO BE HIS NEW CANTONA?

WHISPER it quietly for now, but my sources at Manchester United suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson would be keen to snap up Mario Balotelli should the Italian finally run out of chances at Manchester City. My information is that the man who could claim to be the greatest manager ever sees the firebrand Italian striker as a man-boy who could present him with his greatest final player challenge as a man-manager – a man-boy whom he could tame and turn into one of the three greatest players in the world.

Of course, there are many imponderables before such a deal could ever be signed off. Not least, that Balotelli will NEVER leave City voluntarily as long as his surrogate father – and the man HE considers to be the greatest manager ever – stays in charge. Yes, Super Mario remains loyal to Roberto Mancini – the only manager he truly respects.

Balotelli was previously managed by Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan – but that was destined never to work out, with two of the biggest (and most fragile) egos at work. The Portuguese said Mario was ‘unmanageable’ and was swiftly dropped him from his plans.

It was only when Mancini came in for him at City that Mario started to show some of the wonderful talent and natural technique that does mark him out as a potential great…if only he can control the demons that so often beguile him. Of course, those very same demons are part of the make-up that also propels him to possible greatness – so it needs a very fine line, and a very fine mentor, to guide him forwards.

Mancini, in my opinion, has all the attributes to do just that. But what if City’s owners suddenly decide they no longer want Roberto in charge – and Mourinho arrives? That would signal the end for Balotelli and that, it has been suggested to me, would be the time for Fergie to make his move.

I am told he sees a lot of Eric Cantona in the boy. And remember the impact Cantona had on United? Certainly United fans will never forget – the Frenchman arrived at the end of 1992 and led the club forward to its first top-flight championship in 26 years the following summer, and a period of non-stop glory.

And Cantona came with much more baggage than Balotelli. He had experienced numerous run-ins with the French FA and several bans and damaging altercations. He had, in Mourinho’s terms, become so ‘unmanageable’ that he had to seek a new start abroad. Hence his arrival in England, initially with Leeds United and then Manchester United...when Ferguson stole in for his signature unexpectedly and the two of them embarked on a partnership that was one of the most profitable in United’s history.

In comparison to Cantona, Balotelli’s misdemeanours are those of a novice, but he continues to be roundly criticised and lambasted – often unfairly in my eyes. So I can see why Ferguson would be interested in turning him into the finished article if Roberto did bite the dust at City…whatever people may say, Balotelli DOES have the potential to be one of the greatest players ever.

Remember where you read it first…

FRANK WORRALL