Ostensibly , Balotelli had permission to do whatever he wanted .
A hamstring injury ruled Balotelli out of the 450 - mile round trip for Sunday 's 3 - 1 defeat at Crystal Palace .
Ostensibly , Balotelli had permission to do whatever he wanted because a hamstring injury ruled him out of the 450 - mile round trip for Sunday 's 3 - 1 defeat at Crystal Palace .