The agent of Mario Balotelli, Mino Raiola has been speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport about why the 26-year-old striker has not returned to Serie A this season and instead, has headed to the south of France to join Nice. He explained that; “Here the championship is very physical with new stadiums and a game that is more open. In Italy the games always finish 1-0 or 2-1”.
 

Raiola then stated that; “In Italy there is always too much attention on him so I’ve tried to find a place where he will be judged on his football and not on his private life. Italy was excluded even if his life outside the field over the past two years has been really dull”.  

Raiola also fired a broadside at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp explaining that; “At the end even the directors at Liverpool admitted that the way Klopp treated Mario was wrong. He seems to forget that we are talking about a human being here, admitting Klopp was wrong is an understatement, he’s been a piece of s**t”.
 

To be expected to score 20 goals is normal even if Mario has had a couple of disappointing seasons. This would be a good bet in my opinion. Whoever has the TV rights of Ligue 1 should be grateful to Nice; without Ibrahimovic, this championship has lost 50% of its value in the media. With Mario it will retrieve at least 30%. He will score 20 goals this season I’m certain of that”.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler