The 26-year-old signed a one-year deal at the Allianz Riviera after being allowed to leave Anfield on a free transfer, but Nice are reported to be paying their new recruit an annual salary of €4.5 million (Dh18.5m).
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Mario Balotelli left it late in the day to make a move from Liverpool to Nice despite knowing he had no chance of breaking into Jurgen Klopp’s plans at the club.
The striker, has joined Nice on a one-year contract, which is reportedly worth £3.8million a year. There were other teams, including first-rate ones.
FC’s Gab Marcotti questions if Mario Balotelli can resurrect his footballing career in Nice. “I believe in them and they believe in me”. The French league is interesting and is played offensively. Liverpool has offloaded Mario Balotelli to French club Nice, two years after signing the troubled striker.
However, Rivere admitted signing a player known as much for his off-field antics as his on-field displays could be seen as a risk.
The 26-year-old made 16 appearances during the two years he was contracted to Liverpool, scoring just once.
Balotelli is one of eight attackers in Favre’s squad but the former Inter and AC Milan player expects to get the backing of the Nice coach. “We assume that risk”.
Balotelli, however, does not believe he represents a risk for the Ligue 1 club.
“My career is different from what has been written”, he said.
“Part of my job is about improving the players”, Favre said.
Balotelli, capped 33 times for his country, has immediately begun work with his new teammates during the worldwide break, having not received an Italy call since November 2014.
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“I know that with this coach, Nice is a team that will play good football and I like teams that produce that type of game”. “Now I will focus on Nice. During the Euros that hurt a lot, I do not know what would have happened had I been there but [Antonio] Conte made his choice”.
