The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mario Balotelli

  • Rivere: No regret having Balotelli

    Rivere: No regret having Balotelli

     

     

     

     

    Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has given his backing to charismatic and controversial striker Mario Balotelli despite his recent slump in form.

    Balotelli, who signed for Nice after leaving Liverpool on a free transfer last summer, started off very brightly in France, reaching double figures before Christmas.

    However, he  has endured a big dip in form since then, scoring just one goal in his last six appearances.

    In those matches, the former Liverpool and Manchester City striker has had more red cards than goals – he has been sent off three times in 2016-17.

    However, the Nice president is adamant that they made the right decision to sign Balotelli.

    Rivere said: ‘There are periods like this in the life of any player.

    ‘He made a very good start to the season. At the moment things are not as good but I hope he will soon be back to the Mario that we saw at the beginning of the season.

    ‘Overall we are very happy. He is in a good frame of mind and we do not regret having Mario with us.’

    Balotelli’s goals early on in the campaign helped lift Nice to the top of Ligue 1 but despite his poor return recently, his side remains in contention for the title.

    Nice currently sit third in Ligue 1, level on points with second-placed Paris Saint-Germain and three behind leaders Monaco with just 11 games remaining.

    Lucien Favre’s side face Dijon away next in the league on Saturday and will be hoping to maintain the pressure on Monaco as they approach the business end of the season.

  • Balotelli accepts FA charge

    Balotelli accepts FA charge

    Mario Balotelli has accepted a Football Association charge over a controversial post on social media.

    The Liverpool striker was deemed to have committed an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 [2] after posting a picture containing potentially offensive language referring to “ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief”.

    Balotelli was subsequently charged by the governing  body two weeks ago and the Italian has now accepted that charge verbally, requesting a non-personal hearing.

    The 24-year-old will not be subject to an automatic five-match ban for using racist comments, as this only applies to on-pitch comments.

    Former Milan striker Balotelli received criticism for the picture that contained video game character Super Mario and was posted on both his Instagram and Twitter pages.

    The image was later taken down and Balotelli issued an apology for his actions, stating that the post was intended to be “anti-racist” and in good humour.

  • BALOTELLI, ROSSI BEGGED FOR MY SHIRT – DIKE

    BALOTELLI, ROSSI BEGGED FOR MY SHIRT – DIKE

    INJURED Super Eagles striker, Bright Dike, has revealed that some of the Italian superstars that faced the Eagles in an international friendly in London asked for his shirt.

    Dike scored one of the goals in a game that ended 2-2 to become an instant celebrity in Europe.

    “Some of these guys don’t even know me, but they respect you if you play a game,” Dike told Toronto Sun.

    The Nigerian international will also miss the World Cup as a result, but he insists that one night in November will stick with him forever. “That does so much for your confidence to talk to players of that calibre.

    Dike described how AC Milan’s Mario Balotelli and Fiorentina’s Giuseppe Rossi asked for his jersey after the 2-2 draw with the Italians at London’s Craven Cottage.

    “I didn’t have a third jersey and Riccardo Montolivo came up to me. It was just a wonderful experience,” Dike said.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has hinted that there is still a place for Dike in the Eagles, as soon as he is fit enough to play.