The tea-time news team made the gaffe during a report on Balotelli’s training ground spat with manager Roberto Mancini
Fooled Channel 4 bosses had to apologise to Manchester City hothead Mario Balotelli after attributing spoof Twitter quotes to him.
The tea-time news team made the gaffe on Thursday during a report on Balotelli’s training ground spat with his manager Roberto Mancini.
After showing pictures of the tussle between the two Italians, sports reporter Jordan Jarrett-Bryan said the player had been “making light” of it on Twitter.
Producers then cut to a tweet from parody account @MarioBaLOLtelli: “Me and Mancini auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing…”
The real Balotelli, 22, is not on Twitter.
Viewers quickly highlighted the mistake. One tweeted: “That’s some pretty sh***y journalism”.
Channel 4 News corrected the blunder before the broadcast ended and presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, issued an awkward apology.
He said: “Apologies to Mario, and to you, for that.”
Balotelli will not be disciplined by City over the episode, and Mancini said there is no chance of him eaving in this month’s transfer window.
But the Italy striker’s latest indiscretion makes it increasingly likely he will be offloaded in the summer, with many at City having now finally lost patience with him.
Balotelli has scored just one Premier League goal this season but Mancini will keep faith with him – because he is so short of numbers within his squad.