It turned out to be a 55-year-old dancer.
Conservative MP Guy Opperman was left red-faced after claiming he’d spotted Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli at the House of Commons ahead of a debate on drug policy.
The Tory took to Twitter to tell his followers of Balotelli’s presence and the Italy international’s attire.
However, Political Editor at the Sun – Tom Newton Dunn – was quick to correct Opperman and reveal the true identity of the man thought to be the Reds star.
The embarrassment was completed for the MP when Mark Hughes – News Editor at the Telegraph and not the Stoke City manager – tweeted a picture of the Balotelli lookalike.