Martins defends Balotelli

Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins, has defended Mario Balotelli over his behaviour on and off the pitch.

And he has explained that incidents involving the Liverpool star are often blown out of proportion.

The former Nigeria international is involved in a romantic relationship with Mario Balotelli’s biological sister, Abigail Barwuah, who gave birth to the couple’s first child together just over a year ago.

‘’Why he gets into trouble? Because even if he did nothing wrong, when you are famous like him, end up always being criticised,’’ Obafemi Martins told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

‘’He is great and should be left alone. When he does something, just everything is magnified . He is a good boy, certainly not a bad person.’’

Martins has revealed that he was delighted to commit his long – term future to Seattle Sounders in October by penning a fresh three-year deal.

‘’I just signed a renewal and I am happy here. Seattle is a great city. At every home game, over 40,000 people come to watch us.

‘’Here soccer is wildly popular, I am stopped on the street and in the clubs, and asked for photos and autographs, just as in other parts of the world where I played,’’ he concluded