The former AC Milan striker, whom apparently no manager wants to sign, is reportedly in France in hopes of completing a move to OGC Nice after he had been told to find a new club this summer by manager Jurgen Klopp.
After completing a move for Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace, Liverpool are ready to ship another unwanted striker away from Anfield – Mario Balotelli. Sky Sports reports that the unsettled striker is in France trying to find a new club for himself and he was not seen in the club’s training ground on Thursday. This probably means that he has been given permission to talk to Nice, who are interested in securing his services.
Why Always Him?
Pity seems to be the natural reaction evoked among fans who saw a lonely Mario Balotelli training on his own in Melwood earlier this week. The striker, who just scored 3 goals in a six month loan spell with his former club AC Milan, was surplus to requirements ever since Jurgen Klopp had come in.
“He’s not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five players for one or two positions,” said Klopp.
“So it’s clear we need a solution. There will be a club who would be happy to have the new Mario Balotelli.” (via BBC)
A Possible Deal
Sky Sports further reports that a deal is far from completion as these are early stages in the negotiations for the striker. Club president Jean-Pierre Rivère had publicly denied any offer, however he didn’t rule out a possible move for the mercurial talent whose glory years are behind him now. He refused to close the door on the Balotelli speculations.
“Would we take Balotelli? I believe that you should never close a door in life. He’s a player I don’t know, above all I know his reputation.
“If I took him, people would say ‘that’s it, President Rivère has gone mad’. Except if I’d listened to the Press I’d never have gone for Claude Puel, the same for [Hatem] Ben Arfa” (Via Football-Italia)
Another mercurial talent who had a career path similar to Balotelli’s finally hit his peak with Nice. Hatem Ben Arfa, who is now playing for PSG, finally lived upto his potential last season in Nice as he scored some breath taking goals and displayed some extraordinary skills on the field – a fact that the Nice president cautiously reflected on. Mario Balotelli who like Ben Arfa has also played in England will hope for a similar outcome should he decide to join Nice.
