Super Mario could be heading back to England this summer.
According to a report in the Mail on Sunday in the UK, Mario Balotelli’s time at AC Milan could be up and a move back to the Premier League is likely after the fiery forward is said to be sick and tired of the racist abuse hurled at him in Serie A.
Plus, he apparently realizes that life as PL superstar wasn’t all that bad, after all.
Balotelli, 23, left Manchester City in January 2013 after helping the Citizens to win the PL title but his wacky antics on and off the pitch all became a bit too much for everyone at the Etihad Stadium.
However with both Arsenal and Liverpool on the hunt for attackers to boost their squads for an assault on the Champions League next season, Balotelli’s big-game experience could be crucial. If you manage to massage his ego, Balotelli showed in his second season at City that he can be a real handful. He scored 17 goals in 32 games and proved he’s an absolute menace… when he wants to be.
The Italian international suits English soccer as his pace and power are perfect for the PL and if he’s handled correctly — that’s difficult to do after stunts such as setting off fireworks from his bathroom, handing out money to homeless people, being allergic to grass and many other issues — he could be an absolute bargain with Milan ready to offload him and they can’t offer him European soccer next season after they finished seventh this season. Despite their struggles, Balotelli has banged in 30 goals in 54 games for AC over the last two seasons and will be at the World Cup in Brazil this summer, strutting his stuff with his usual panache.
Do Arsenal or Liverpool need Balotelli?
Liverpool could certainly use depth up top because if either Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez get injured for a long period of time then stand-ins such as Iago Aspas could struggle massively. As for Arsenal, they have Olivier Giroud and then youngster Yaya Sanogo who occupy the top two spots on their depth chart of strikers. For so long Arsene Wenger has been urged to go out and buy a top quality striker. Is Balotelli the right man for the Gunners? His direct style of play is certainly something very different to what they are used to and I’m not sure I can see Wenger putting up with Balotelli’s antics for too long.
Both PL teams need to buy a striker this summer to be successful domestically and in Europa next season, but is Balotelli the man they will go for?
