The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Balotelli

  • Balotelli, Pirlo, Buffon battle Eagles in London

    Balotelli, Pirlo, Buffon battle Eagles in London

    • Nigeria, Italy friendly billed for Nov.18

    Mario Balotelli and the duo of Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon will be among the Azzurri stars that will battle African champions, Nigeria in an international friendly game to be held in London.

    The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) made this known Sunday after Emmanuel Emenike shot Nigeria a step ahead to next year’s World Cup in Brazil, after he scored a brace in the 2-1 victory over Ethiopia in a play-off game in Addis Ababa.

    The federation further revealed that the friendly against Nigeria has been fixed for November 18.

    However, the November 18 date will be two days after Nigeria’s 2nd leg play-off game against Ethiopia in Calabar.

    Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport announced: “We are pleased to confirm a top international friendly match, against world’s number four, Italy, on the 18th November, 2013 at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.

    The match will kick off at 7.45pm.

    “We are also happy to confirm a match for our Super Eagles home team against Jordan in Omman on October 28. This match will serve Jordan to prepare for their World Cup play off match against Uruguay and will also help Nigeria to prepare for next year’s African Nations Championship.”

  • Balotelli joins Milan

    Balotelli joins Milan

    Manchester City and Milan have finally reached an agreement over Mario Balotelli, with the player signing a four-year-deal worth €20m plus bonuses, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The deal became official on Tuesday evening after Milan’s official television channel confirmed the transfer.

    “Mario arrives tomorrow!!!” a statement reads on Milan Channel. “There is an agreement between the two clubs.

    “Tomorrow he’ll undergo a medical and after that Mario will sign a contract with Milan until June 30, 2017.”

    It was previously suspected that the deal had fallen through after City demanded a price-tag of €37m, but the Rossoneri had managed to renegotiate to a figure of €20m to be paid over six years.

    Balotelli, a confirmed Milan fan, was a catalyst in the move after agreeing to take a pay cut of €4m per season.

     

  • Balotelli sets for AC Milan switch

    Balotelli sets for AC Milan switch

    Mario Balotelli is poised to fly to Italy as early as Monday evening ahead of a proposed medical as Manchester City and AC Milan moved to conclude negotiations over a transfer for the striker, Goal.com reports.

    The 22-year-old said his goodbyes to team-mates and club staff after completing training at Carrington on Monday morning, and could travel to Milan over the next 24 hours.

    Super agent Mino Raiola was in Milan last week in an attempt to resolve the Italy international’s future and Rossoneri Vice-president Adriano Galliani suggested on Sunday evening that there had been new developments in the saga.

    On Wednesday, Goal.com revealed that City owners had lowered their asking price to €23m having dismissed Milan’s proposal of €29m to be paid over six years, preferring a lesser fee spread over a shorter period of time.

    The Premier League champions had also demanding a 15 per cent sell-on clause as an agreement with Milan appears increasingly likely before the transfer window closes on Thursday night.

    AC Milan, according to reports, is willing to sell defender Philippe Mexes in order to free up around €4.5m-a-year on their wage bill and fund a move for Balotelli, with the Italian international willing to take a wage cut on his current €129,000-a-week salary.

    The former Inter Milan star has scored only one league goal for City this season and his relationship with manager Roberto Mancini took another turn for the worse after a training ground bust-up earlier this month.