There’s been a whole lot of talk about Mario Balotelli the last couple of days with the Liverpool misfit still at Anfield despite both the club and his agent doing absolutely everything possible to find him a new home. Late last week Swiss side FC Sion were in talks to take him in on loan, but it’s sounding like a more permanent solution could be on the horizon with Italian outfit Palermo doing everything they can to bring him back to Serie A.
“We think that Palermo could be just the right place for him to relaunch his career,” said Sporting Director Daniele Faggiano. “We would welcome him like a great champion, who with the talent he has got could get back into the national team,” continued the Palermo man. “The only obstacle is his salary, but his desire could shift the balance in Palermo’s favour,” he added, sounding hopeful. “We’re waiting for his decision.”
Although nothing has been confirmed as of yet, it’s believed that the Italian outfit have only been able to offer the troubled 26-year old a paltry£11k per-week — a salary most people would jump at, but one that is a significant cut to the £90k he pulls in on Merseyside. The likeliest situation would have seen him on loan with the Anfield outfit stumping up the vast majority of his wages, but the late chatter is that he’ll be moving to France with Ligue One side Nice after self proclaimed super agent Mino Raiola hashed out terms that’ll see his nightmare 24-month spell with Liverpool come to an end.
“Do you have Balotelli’s number,” club president Jean-Pierre Rivere asked reporters half jokingly when pressed on the Ligue One club’s problems in front of the net following a 1-1 draw with Lille at the weekend. “Call him and tell him that we need a striker here in Nice.”
You can have him, Jean…
