What with Neymar rocking up in France, it is easy to forget about some of the other mercurial but stroppy talents currently working in Ligue Un. But on a weekend of contentment in Paris - Neymar scored a penalty and shared an embrace with Edison Cavani immediately afterward - Mario Balotelli exploded in a fit of pique at his Nice teammates.
Nice were beaten 4-2 at home to Marseille, having led 2-0 after just 16 minutes. Balotelli had scored the opener after just four minutes - his 12th league goal at home in 12 matches - before Jean-Michel Seri doubled the advantage twelve minutes later.
But then, they wobbled and collapsed: conceding three goals in just eighteen minutes before half-time, two of them coming in the four minutes prior to the whistle.
Balotelli was naturally unhappy with his teammates, and was in no mood for restraint as they trooped back into the dressing room at halftime. Here he is complaining about the quick concession of the goals:
"@GFFN: Mario Balotelli was furious after Nice conceded 3 goals in 10 minutes just before half-time tonight. (J + 1) pic.twitter.com/SOubaQ71Sw
— Valoli (@ValoliGroup) October 1, 2017
In fairness to Balotelli, he has every right to be annoyed in this instance. Ultimately it didn't have the desired effect as the only remaining goal of the game was scored by Marseille.
The result leaves Nice in tenth position in the French league, five points clear of the drop zone. Elsewhere, it would appear Claudio Ranieri is at it again. His Nantes team are in fourth, level on points with third-placed Marseille.