By Ewah Chika.

One of the most anticipated transfer news in the English Premier League this season was signing of former Liverpool and Azzurri forward Mario Balotelli on deadline day by Nice. The reason for this is not far fetched as the controversial striker did not fit in with Jurgen Klopp's system at the club. To show how desperate Liverpool was to move on the striker, it was even reported that he was forced to train alone and with the reserves as he was never allowed contact with the first team under the former Mainz manager.

The Italian was a £16 million signing from AC Milan in 2014 after the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Even though Balotelli scored 26 goals in 43 games in all competitions for AC Milan in the 2013/2014 season, he was still considered a big gamble. It wasn't surprising as the striker ended up flopping big time at Anfield, scoring one goal in 16 league games for Liverpool in 2014/2015 season. Balotelli's career went further down the next season as he scored one goal in 20 league games for Milan the following season while on a season long loan. Balotelli's free transfer signing is seen as a bargain or gamble even though he is joining Nice who pfinished an impressive fourth last season in Ligue 1 under Claude Puel. The club moved swiftly to appoint Lavre Favien (led Borussia Mochengladbach to a fourth place finish in the 2014/2015 season) as Puel's replacement. Favien has also already signed Champions League winner and former Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg defender Dante this season.

"Jean-Pierre Rivere is an interesting and intelligent president but I'm not convinced this is the right choice.

"You know if the guy (Balotelli) returns to his level he will perform. But this kid does not light on all floors (lacks intelligence). I think it's already too late," French legend Christophe Dungary said of Balotelli's signing by Nice.

It is not as if the Italian lacks talent, as Balotelli is quick, agile , powerful and strong with an immense technical ability, yet he lacks maturity and discipline at the same time. The Italian has a decent record with the Azzurri's scoring 13 goals in 33 games. Balotelli was also the youngest Inter Milan player to score in the Champions League after scoring in the 3-3 draw away against Anorthosis Famagusta in 2008. This might be the striker's last chance to right his wrongs as indiscipline has curtailed his career till date. Balotelli's first problem became public in January 2009 after then manager Jose Mourinho excluded him from the Inter Milan first team. It did not take long before he got involved in another controversy as he was spotted on live TV (Striscia La Notizia Italian show) wearing an AC Milan Jersey. As if that wasn't enough he threw away his Inter Milan Jersey in the full glare of the public after he was criticised by fans in a Champions League match. In England things did not change as Balotelli was suspended for four games after stamping on Tottenham's Scot Parker in 2012. The striker ended that season with four red cards, fined two weeks wages by Manchester City for his poor disciplinary record in the 2011/2012 missing 11 games in all competitions. The Sicily born striker continued his indiscipline in Liverpool where he was fined £25,000 for posting anti-Semitic and racist remarks on social media.

It is still too early to predict which Balotelli will turn up in Nice considering his controversial nature but one thing is sure and that is that time seems to be running out for the 26-year-old. At Nice he will have less pressure and will surely see game time which puts the ball in his court.

Source

http://mailtelegraph..com.ng/2016/09/after-flopping-in-liverpool-and-milan.html?m=1