We’ve all enjoyed the Mario Balotelli Show so far. But the plot, for all its inconstancy, feels increasingly banal and well-worn. Our protagonist, initially an inscrutable maverick, is developing into a thoroughly imprudent rogue, with few redeeming qualities.

The Italian’s latest indiscretion, an impetuous stamp on Tottenham’s Scott Parker, stretched beyond the, to date, comically egregious to the downright idiotic. While the off-pitch fireworks, chicken hats, and arbitrary charitable donations are entertaining enough, this episode was altogether more unsettling.

Balotelli’s second-half introduction came after an implausibly pulsating nine minutes. Samir Nasri, latching onto David Silva’s defence-splitting pass, struck first, before Joleon Lescott bundled home the former’s corner three minutes later. Jermain Defoe would capitalise on Stefan Savic’s poor clearance moments after, circumventing the advancing Joe Hart. And Gareth Bale would level in stunning fashion from 20 yards to complete an ephemeral comeback. 

Then, Balotelli, already cautioned for fouling Benoit Assou-Ekotto, drove into Parker, landing off-balance before taking an unnatural stab at the midfielder’s exposed head. It looked nasty and deliberate, though only Balotelli himself will know if insidious intent drove his descending leg.

Ledley King’s uncharacteristically gauche tackle brought down the striker, who would guide home the ensuing penalty with palpable poise. It was virtually the game’s last kick and, after Defoe’s open-goal miss seconds earlier, a nauseating finish for the impressive Spurs.

Amid expressing pride at his side’s riposte, Harry Redknapp was visibly seething over Balotelli’s “blatant backheel”. The 21-year-old wasn’t questioned on the challenge, but the game-winning spot-kick instead. A terse, taciturn answer followed.

The Balotelli Show is an expensive, grandiose production - with a terrific cast to complement its languorous “star“. Roberto Mancini knows the superlative Silva, Sergio Aguero, and Yaya Toure will negate Balotelli’s occasional profligacy. He, too, recognises the enigma’s considerable raw talent - and a, thus far, season-leading minutes-per-goal ratio.

With each episode, Balotelli’s unpredictable narrative risks becoming so commonplace it’s boring. The Parker incident was erratic and unprompted, but hardly surprising. A proper, rapturous goal celebration would, at this point, almost represent a plot twist.

The ceaseless Twitter conjecture won’t dwindle, but Balotelli’s fervent audience might, should such malice materialise once more. He would, ultimately, suppress Tottenham’s title charge on Sunday, though it could easily have been City’s. Mancini will now privately hope, come the campaign‘s close, he will be asking, “Why always you, Mario?” for the right reasons.