Mario Balotelli pretends to SMOKE after a lighter is thrown on the pitch

Mario Balotelli was back to his comical best during Adana Demirspor’s defeat against Fenerbahce on Wednesday after pretending to smoke when a lighter was thrown onto the pitch.

The Italian has made a name for himself as one of modern football's biggest characters with his various antics over the years and appears to be loving life playing the Turkish top-flight.

Balotelli's career that once saw him win the Premier League title at Manchester City and later join Liverpool has been largely derailed in recent years, but is now rediscovering his previous form.

Demirspor fans have witnessed his abilities first hand with the 33-year-old scoring seven goals in 11 Super Lig appearances this season, with his latest coming against Fenerbahce earlier in the week.

After scoring in the 25th minute, Balotelli celebrated by pretending to smoke after picking up a lighter that had been thrown at him by frustrated fans in the crowd.

A smiling Balotelli picks up the lighter and puffs at an imaginary cigarette before throwing the combustible object back to the side of the pitch.

It was another iconic celebration in a growing catalogue that also features Balotelli's famous moment when he revealed a 'why always me?' t-shirt after scoring against Man United in the Manchester derby.

Unfortunately his celebration on this occasion was short-lived as the hosts responded through Balotelli's former Man City team-mate Edin Dzeko before going on to score twice more in the 4-2 victory.

Despite pretending to smoke after scoring, Balotelli has previously been seen with a real cigarette in his mouth while on a previous visit to Florida.

Then aged 23 and playing for AC Milan, he was pictured lighting up on a balcony at a hotel while walking around topless.

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