Mario Balotelli, the striker for Manchester City, accidentally set his house on fire while playing with fireworks in his bathroom. The incident occurred just two days before Manchester City faced their rivals, Manchester United, in a match where they triumphed 6-1. Balotelli made headlines by scoring the first goal and subsequently unveiling a T-shirt that boldly questioned, 'Why always me?' This phrase seemed to reflect his ongoing struggles with media scrutiny and controversies surrounding his behavior.

The Cheshire Fire and Rescue service responded to the fire incident and remained at Balotelli's house until the early hours of the morning. Their presence could suggest that they might have had a few insights into the answer to his rhetorical question. This sequence of events highlights Balotelli's tumultuous yet charismatic persona on and off the pitch, engaging fans and media alike with his antics and performances during the season, as captured in Nick Hornby's book.