Footballers have always liked to be a fashionable bunch, with wardrobes stuffed with cutting edge designer threads - much like their WAGs - but Manchester City striker Balotelli may have gone a step too far with his latest style choice.
The 20-year-old Italian-born player - real name Mario Barwuah Balotelli - has already been seen wearing many foreign players' current favourite, the much-maligned snood.
But last night, he was sporting a knitted woolly hat that looked like a giant glove-shaped teacosy - as if experimenting with fashion had literally gone to his head.
Hand it to him: Manchester United's Balotelli stood out by apparently wearing a giant glove-shaped teacosy as he arrived to play against Everton on Monday night
As well as the daft hat, £24million player Balotelli has been spotted wearing the latest bete noir of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - the snood.
Sir Alex has banned his players from wearing the Eighties-style circular scarves - saying they're 'for powder puffs'.
The serious Scot branded them only 'fit for cissy' and insisted his team brave the cold on the pitch instead.
He blasted: 'Real men don't wear things like that. Get 'em off.'
The garment has become increasingly popular with players during the current cold snap with snood fans including Balotelli's teammates Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure.
Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina are also fans.
In the neck: Balotelli (right) was on the pitch last night wearing a controversial snood - as well as rather fetching black leggings and matching gloves
Balotelli has also just been awarded the Golden Boy award for the best under-21 player in Europe this year - a gong previously awarded to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas.
However, in typically modest fashion, he said: 'There's only one that is a little stronger than me: Messi. All the others behind me.
'I am delighted to receive the award, but who else would have won if not me?'
Whether he wins any awards for football fashion in the future however remains highly doubtful...
Adam Johnson of Manchester City wearing snow boots before Monday night's game against Everton
