Mino Raiola is the archetypal modern football agent. That isn’t necessarily meant as a compliment. The abrasive Italian tends to do the best for his clients, serving them with the utmost loyalty, but this often results in shady dealings. This was illustrated in Pep Guardiola’s comments on Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba last week, revealing that Raiola had offered him the pair in January.
Mario Balotelli is another of Raiola’s clients and it would seem he has similarly been shopping the Italian forward around, with his contract at Nice set to expire at the end of the season. In France, Balotelli has rehabilitated his reputation. His spell at Nice has been an undeniable success and now, according to reports, Premier League clubs are lining up to hand him another shot in England.
But rather than heading across the English Channel, Balotelli could instead make a switch across the Atlantic. DC United are thought to be keen on the former Manchester City and Inter Milan forward, with the MLS outfit determined to make a big name signing this summer. They have a new owner and this would be a real statement of intent from a club that has fallen on difficult times of late.
Of course, Balotelli’s arrival in MLS would generate headlines. It would pierce the American sports mainstream, but not quite in the way Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s arrival at the LA Galaxy did a few weeks ago. But Balotelli’s signing would be more significant than that of the Swedish striker and his former Inter Milan teammate.
At 27 years old, Balotelli is entering his peak as a professional. Ibrahimovic, on the other hand, has pitched up in MLS at the age of 36. Of course, MLS has long rallied against its image as a retirement league and the signing of Ibrahimovic played right into that toxic image. The arrival of Balotelli would counter it, though.
He would be the most significant MLS signing since Sebastian Giovinco, who has gone on to become arguably the greatest player in the league’s history. What’s more, by joining DC United Balotelli would be signing for a club further down the ladder in North American football terms. Once MLS’s most successful side, DC United haven’t been a marquee franchise for a long time. Balotelli’s signing would add depth to MLS.
It’s possible that the lure of the Premier League might prove too much for the Italian. He has a point to prove there after tumultuous stints at Liverpool and Manchester City. But Balotelli could have a more profound impact at DC United. If he wants to raise himself, that might be the place to do it.
