It was a powerful, yet painful moment for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli as he returned to the bench during the team's match against Napoli.
Balotelli was on the bench hiding behind a jacket after being subbed out with 15 minutes remaining.
When he removed the jacket, the camera caught a flood of tears streaming down his face.
Allegedly, as multiple sources in Europe reported, Napoli fans had been shouting racial slurs at Balotelli -- whose parents are from Ghana -- and they were awful enough to reduce the 23-year-old to tears.
After the match, AC Milan manager Clarence Seedorf did not address Balotelli's tears other than to say that they were not "abnormal."
ââ¬ÅWe are players and there are times when we express ourselves that way. I see nothing wrong or abnormal in that. I experienced it at times too,â⬠he told Sky Sport Italia.