Football, Balotelli's brother's outburst against Pavia: "They asked Mario to be a sponsor, he refused. And that was the end of me"

Milan, 2 July 2025 – It was 25 July 2018 when the then 25-year-old Enock Barwuah , Balotelli's brother united with the former national team player with the same passions (football and motors above all), showed up at the Fortunati stadium in Pavia with SuperMario's powerful yellow Ferrari for the official presentation. With a trendy haircut and designer clothes, that "catwalk" did not go unnoticed.

After all, it was his older brother who gave his “blessing” (“a right choice”) before the transfer to an important place for the Serie D championship, after the experiences with Bogliasco, Vallecamonica and Foligno. Seven years later, however, something completely different is discovered. And it was Balotelli Jr. (coming from a brilliant second half of the season with the Ospitaletto shirt culminating with promotion to Serie C and waiting for a probable renewal of the contract with the Orange) who told the story of an experience ( 2018-2019 , twenty-three appearances and 3 goals) that began under the best auspices but ended very badly in a hostile climate , during an interview with the podcast Centrocampo .

From dream to nightmare, from a starting shirt to unmotivated exclusions for reasons that have little to do with the field and that lead to very current topics and investigations, or rather to the undergrowth of that sick and unruly football (especially amateur football) where other interests prevail and it often happens that you have to pay out of your own pocket to play or even to coach. From 30 thousand to 50 thousand euros , even more. Sometimes, in the lower leagues, even for less. Maybe bringing a sponsor with you.

“I was in Miami and I was contacted by Pavia, they wanted me at all costs - says Enock Barwuah - I went there, in the end they convinced me and I signed. Then after that things didn't go well, even though I was doing well...”. That feeling that had been established between the parties quickly crumbled after a few months. At one particular moment, namely when SuperMario visited the team , keeping the promise he had made to his brother in the summer. From Enock's story, it is understood that the Pavia management had attempted to "involve" Balotelli senior in that "technical project" by making him a request (not even too veiled) for financial support . "These people make up something... Mario comes to see me and asks him: "Come on, give us a hand...". He replied annoyed: "Look, if I have to pay to have my brother play or help him in the teams, it's better if they all go to work, even my brother".

After that exchange with the very strong reaction of the former Inter and Milan striker, Enock's adventure at Pavia took a different turn. Because Balotelli Jr. would pay the consequences of Mario's clear refusal. "The truth is that these guys asked my brother for a sponsor and he gave that dry answer and also got angry. From then on I never saw the pitch again and they started to wage war on me, even if they said it wasn't for this reason but because I was taking too much". In fact, Enock convinced everyone in training , including the coach, who later privately admitted the impossibility of fielding him precisely because of the veto and pressure from the managers: "The coach was uncomfortable. During the week I was a starter, on Sundays I was on the bench. Then he would call me aside and say: "Look Enock, I would like to have you play, but if I do they'll kick me out"", Enock Barwuah's complaint.

No sooner said than done. One of the key episodes in the match against Modena: “We were doing badly, the coach throws me in and changes the game , we even had the opportunity to score two or three goals. After that game the coach calls me into the closet and says: “Enock, from now on I use my head, you play, now you are part of the starters, enough conditioning. I don't care about any of these people”. After two days he was fired ”.

With the arrival of the new coach - who Balotelli jr had known for a long time - things got even worse. An attitude of total indifference and one humiliation after another: "He wouldn't even look me in the eye even though I knew his son. He acted as if I didn't exist. I wanted to go away in the amateur market, but they told me I was essential. Then they wanted to send me away anyway, to Cuneo. They said they couldn't pay me anymore but I replied: "You should have told me before, not now that the market is closed and I don't have any alternatives that I like". But in fact the cycle had ended in a climate that had become very heavy on and off the pitch ("They were driving me crazy, in San Marino we were losing and instead of letting me come on they called a boy from the juniors just to provoke me...").

A situation that had become unsustainable pushed Enock towards the most drastic decision, that of leaving the team two months early. On one condition though: receiving all the agreed compensation . “I was very clear and said: “Listen to a good thing: I’m going home, but you give me all my money, from start to finish because otherwise there’s going to be a mess here, I don’t care anymore. Just be good.” I took all my money and left”.

Final comment that captures all the bitterness of that season to forget: “It was tough, when they had to pay me I even happened to hear: “You don't need money, you're Mario's brother ”. And I replied: “Excuse me, but if I have to be Mario's brother, I won't come here to train... I'm with my brother and I get paid by my brother. But if I'm here like everyone else, you have to respect me and pay me like you do with everyone else'...”.