ANKARA

Famed Italian forward Mario Balotelli said Wednesday that unlike the media's epithet towards him, he is a "normal" person. 

Adana Demirspor's new signing told members of the press that the media labelled him "crazy" for his outrageous acts on and off the pitch, but they are wrong.

"The thing is, 'Mario is crazy' is just something that the newspapers in the years made up. But I see myself as a normal person. I am not crazy at all," Balotelli said.

"I just enjoy [myself] sometimes, and probably because [for the media] every footballer needs to be like soldiers."

The former Manchester City and Inter Milan player said it was the image that newspapers made against him.

Balotelli added that he is a "normal person and normal guy" and loves to win as he gave a message to the Turkish club's supporters.

Last season, Adana Demirspor won the first league, so the club from Turkey's south was promoted to the Turkish Super Lig.

Nicknamed "Super Mario" for his spectacular moves and skills on the pitch, Balotelli played for several football powerhouses such as Manchester City, Liverpool, AC Milan and their archrivals Inter as well as France's Nice and Olympique Marseille.

Balotelli won the 2010 UEFA Champions League with Inter and three consecutive Italian Serie A titles in 2008-2010.

He also claimed the 2012 English Premier League title with Manchester City, which was a long-awaited title for the Manchester club.

Separately, Balotelli played for the Italian national team, helping the Azzurri reach the final in the UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Then he played for his nation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.