Mario Balotelli scored his 16th Ligue 1 goal of the season on Sunday in Nice’s 2-1 defeat to Marseille, but the 27-year-old Italian’s personal renaissance at the club may be at an end.
Balotelli’s current contract in France lasts until the end of the season, but with only two matches remaining in league play, the striker may face retroactive punishment after being caught by cameras saying: “Every time, f*cking French referees, every time.”
Balotelli said the above while leaving the pitch at halftime after being shown a yellow card for a rough challenge. Although he’s scored 24 goals in 36 appearances for Nice across all competitions this season, he’s also accumulated 13 yellow cards and one red.
Balotelli’s temperament remains an issue, and he was recently criticized by manager Lucien Favre for his lack of movement on the pitch — a criticism that Liverpool supporters know only too well.
However, the goal he scored against Marseille on Sunday shows why he’s reportedly wanted by the likes of AC Milan, Napoli and Torino. As a free agent entering the prime of his career, there are probably some big clubs in Spain and England willing to take the gamble as well.
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