Now to get Super Mario to next level

THE most memorable scene of Saturday’s Manchester Cup semi-final occurred a few seconds after the final whistle amid the tussle sparked by Mario Balotelli’s gloating celebrations over by the Manchester United fans.

As Rio Ferdinand, Roberto Mancini, Anderson, David Platt and Edwin van der Sar formed a shouting, snarling scrum around Balotelli, City’s Italian centre-forward wore an expression of quiet serenity.

Balotelli’s lack of aggression amidst an angry dispute in which he was the central figure was striking. It was as though he was watching it happen to somebody else.