Controversial Italian
international forward Mario Balotelli has joined Ligue 1’s Nice from Liverpool,
the French side said on their website on Wednesday.
Nice's Italian forward
Mario Balotelli (R) takes part in a training session on September 1, 2016 at
the "Charles Ehrmann" stadium in Nice, southeastern France.
The 26-year-old known as
‘Super Mario’, whose career has stalled over the last two years, has signed a
permanent deal, Nice said, without revealing the fee or the length of the
contract.
“Mario Balotelli will train
with us on Thursday and be officially presented to the press on Friday,” said
Nice, who came fourth in Ligue 1 last season.
British media reported he
had moved on a free transfer, with Liverpool avoiding having to pay off his
hefty contract, as had been feared after a raft of European clubs refused to
take him.
“We know, he and the club,
that it will not be simple, but with desire and support from the fans, he can
blossom here and bring all his talent to the service of the team,” Nice
president Jean-Pierre Rivere said.
“We hope that in the family
atmosphere at this club, he will start to enjoy his game again.”
Nice have a recent track
record of bringing wayward talent back to the boil after a similar experience
last season with France international Hatem Ben Arfa, who moved to Paris
Saint-Germain in the close season.
Liverpool bought Balotelli
from AC Milan for 25 million euros ($27.9 million) in 2014, but a year later
loaned him back to the Italian giants, where he managed a paltry one goal in 20
matches.
Once considered a potential
great, Balotelli scored a brilliant brace for Italy in their Euro 2012
semi-final win over Germany.
He also shone at the 2013
Confederations Cup, but since leaving Manchester City that year his career has
been in gradual decline.
Balotelli was shipped back
to Milan on loan after just one campaign at Liverpool, but his miserable spell
at Anfield is finally over.
Liverpool also allowed
Serbian winger Lazar Markovic to join Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan.
AFP
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