A few short months ago, Mario Balotelli left Liverpool for Nice on a free transfer.
It was a bad piece of business for the Reds, who basically decided to eat the £16 million they paid for him in 2014.
His final numbers in his first season on Merseyside, four goals in 28 appearances, led the team to loan him to AC Milan last season.
His injury issues and poor return of one goal in 20 appearances didn’t inspire the Italian giants to make an effort to sign him, and he wasn’t in Liverpool manager’s Jurgen Klopp’s plans, either.
So, off to France he went on deadline day. To say he’s thriving in his short time there would be an understatement.
His new club is six points clear at top of the table, thanks in no small part to his six goals in his five league appearances.
He added another goal in the Europa League in a loss to Krasnodar, and judging by his recent jaunt down the French Rivera on a motorized skateboard, he seems to be enjoying himself.
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It’s easy to forget that the mercurial Italian is only 26-years-old, which means that his best soccer may still be in front of him.
His form has caught the attention of Italian national team coach Giampiero Ventura, who despite some reservations about the striker’s checkered past, could bring him back into the fold.
“In terms of his characteristics, he’s a player this national team has missed a lot,” he said.
His former manager at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini, is hoping that Balotelli’s time in France can mature him a bit.
“As a player is fantastic,” he said. “I hope this experience in France, which has started very well, can really bring raise his level. When he is in the team he has an incredible quality and, for those who do not know him, he is a really big guy with the heart of a child. I hope he can always improve.”
He’s always going to be a character, but when he’s in form, he knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. As long as that’s true, he’s always going to have an opportunity.
