Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has flown to France to negotiate a potential transfer to Ligue 1 club OGC Nice. The Italian forward is hoping to end his two-year nightmare with the Merseyside outfit by signing for the French club. As of now no deal has been agreed between the two sides, but Balotelli will be having talks with OGC Nice manager Lucien Favre to see if a move to France can help reignite his career. Favre, on the other hand, will be analysing if the Italian player can contribute to his side.
“I don't know him personally, but if he runs and wants to help the youngsters, then why not? If he doesn't want to run, then there's no way he'll come here.", the Swiss boss said when asked about Balotelli. Favre has made it clear by that he is only interested in signing players who are ready to contribute to the team and play to the manager's strategies.
Meanwhile, FC Sion has also expressed interest in signing Mario Balotelli on loan. The club's chairman Christian Constantin confirmed that they are in talks for a possible loan move but also said that there is no guarantee that the transfer will be done.
The Italian striker's contract with Liverpool ends in 2017, hence even a loan move will signal the end of his term with the Reds. Either way, Liverpool will be hoping that they will be able to offload the 26-year-old. The Reds will be even happier if they can sell the Italian this summer itself. It is certain that the Merseyside club won't be able to get back majority of the £16 Million they paid for the striker two years ago, but they will hoping to get at least a small amount.
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Balotelli has scored only four goals from his 14 appearances for the club and the Italian spend the 2015-16 season with his former club AC Milan on loan, where too he failed to impress.
The 26-year-old once was considered as one of the most talented players in football, but later his career went to a downfall. Balotelli's attitude is said to be the reason for his career's fall. If the Italian doesn't change his attitude and start 'running', as Lucien Favre stated, he won't be able to get back his momentum.
Jurgen Klopp was the perfect man to reignite Balotelli's career, but if the player doesn't try for it then there's no chance. The German manager and Liverpool are fed up with the former Inter Milan striker and will be hoping that his negotiations with OGC Nice go well.
