How Italian heavies gave Rafa a weighty new nickname... and why Baltotelli must hold his tongue
By The Mole
Published 22:00 24/07/10
Rafa Benitez has already made an impression on the Italian media – and earned himself a new nickname.
The Spanish manager imported from England by Inter Milan cut a conspicuously portly figure at the club’s summer training camp, to the undisguised sniggers of the watching scribes.
Benitez has pledged to get his squad in the best possible condition ahead of their pre-season friendlies, but admits his own physical profile is testimony to a love of food.
One weighty Italian sports daily duly dubbed him “Big Ben”.
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Italian bad boy Mario Balotelli will be warned to treat his elders with more respect when he arrives in the Premier League.
The volatile Inter Milan forward provoked veteran Roma captain and idol Francesco Totti into a red card retaliation by taunting him: “Grandad, you’re finished.”
Picture the scene: Balotelli signs for Manchester City then faces Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville in a derby clash. On the other hand, better not!
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