Mario Balotelli
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Three potential destinations for Mario Balotelli before the transfer window shuts

| 14.08.2018
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Serie A return or Ligue 1 move could be on the cards

Mario Balotelli has got his career back on track in the last two years at Nice, but he looks poised to leave the Ligue 1 club in the coming days.

The 28-year-old returned to pre-season two weeks late and has made it clear he has no intention of playing for the club this season. New Nice manager Patrick Vieira has said he’ll do all he can to get him a move.

Balotelli arrived on the French Riviera having scored just two league goals during the previous two seasons for Liverpool and AC Milan. For all the baggage that he brings, he has rediscovered his scoring touch at Nice, with 43 goals in 66 appearances over the last two years.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has recently ruled his club out of the race for him, so the Coral News Team have looked at three clubs who could bring Super Mario in before the transfer window shuts on the continent…

Sassoulo

Sassoulo finished 11th in Serie A last season despite only scoring 29 goals, the lowest tally in the division. Matteo Politano is the only player in the squad who got more than five league goals (10).

If they’re going to push on and break into the top half, they’ll need more firepower. Balotelli would help to address that issue. If he’s played through on goal, he’s still a clinical finisher.

A move to Sassuolo would also see the Italy international reunite with former Milan teammate Kevin-Prince Boateng. The midfielder recently hinted that they could be lining up together again sooner rather than later.

Marseille

Marseille were in talks with Nice over a deal for Balotelli earlier this summer, but the two clubs couldn’t agree a fee. Nice reportedly want around £9m for the striker.

If Marseille pay up, they’d upgrade their attacking options. Florian Thauvin scored 22 goals in Ligue 1 last season, which means he’ll receive much more attention from defenders this term. Balotelli would help to spread the goals around.

With Thauvin, Dimitri Payet and Lucas Ocampos in the squad, he could expect plenty of service.

Parma

Parma are back in Italy’s top-tier this term after three successive promotions. They’ve brought in six new players to help them make the step up. Four of those were free transfers, the other two cost under £1.5m.

They’re understood to be very interested in Balotelli, but the fee and his wages would be an issue.

If they can convince Nice to agree to a loan deal, the former Manchester City forward could become an icon for the Crociati.

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Author

Daniel Anwar

Daniel has written about sport for Coral, Squawka, FourFourTwo and the Premier League, among others.