Italy’s fallen giants AC Milan have been linked with a move to sign the Reds’ striker on a permanent basis, but CEO Adriano Galliani recently stated that there have been no talks between Milan and Liverpool about a possible transfer.
Mario Balotelli has been plying his trade in Italy this season, having been loaned to AC Milan by Liverpool, but the Italian’s future is in considerable doubt. While he still has a year to go on his contract with Liverpool, Balotelli admitted that he would prefer to stay at AC Milan. Recently, the Italian giants were rumoured to be in talks with the Reds over a permanent transfer.
However, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani recently dispelled these rumours and said the club were more concerned with qualifying for the Europa League than acquiring a player who is yet to prove himself this season.
“We’ve never talked with Liverpool,” he said, according to Football Italia. “Mario has set to win his chance to stay, he needs to do very well in the next four games.”
Galliani stressed more on the importance of finishing the season strongly.
“Now we have to defend this sixth-place to make sure we qualify for the Europa League, potentially improving our position by winning the Coppa Italia,” he added.
“Going directly into the Group Stage would mean a lot, that we could start playing in Europe in mid-September, do the American tour and so on. We have to put some distance between ourselves and Sassuolo, as they’re only a point behind.”
AC Milan — The fallen giants of Italy
AC Milan are one of the most historic clubs in the Serie A, having won 18 league titles, 7 Champions Leagues and 5 Coppa Italias. However, they last won the Scudetto in 2010-11 and have been in a major slump since then. They finished second and third in the two following seasons, before plummeting to 8th and 10th in 2013-14 and 14-15 respectively.
Their decline was further compounded by the departure of Massimiliano Allegri for Juventus in 2014, following which they have seen managers come and go. The most recent dismissal was that of Sinisa Mihajlovic, who was sacked last month.
AC Milan, with their historic legacy in Europe’s elite competition, are now trying hard to make it into the Europa League and the chaotic presence of Mario Balotelli is something they Rossoneri could do well without.
