One of world football's most intriguing characters, Mario Balotelli can't help being talked about. He divides opinion like few others, some finding his rumoured antics to be an endearing antidote to the game’s staid professionalism, while others see him as an overly-indulged man-child who’s failed to make the most of his ability. He’s an enigma, but captivating all the same.
After a couple of difficult years at Liverpool, the second of which was spent back on loan at AC Milan, Balotelli has been quietly rebuilding his career on the French Riviera. Seemingly content to drift, with no real destination in mind, a move to Nice provided him with the right environment to flourish away from big city distractions.
The club has developed something of a reputation for helping talented but wayward footballers to refocus and rediscover a sense of purpose. It’s an intentional strategy, stemming from president Jean-Pierre Rivere’s need to find good value on a tight budget. By offering short-term deals to ailing stars, Nice get a great player at a fraction of the price. Some inevitably move on when bigger clubs begin to circle but this is all factored into the business model.
It doesn’t always pay off. This year’s experiment with Wesley Sneijder, once one of Europe’s leading playmakers, was unsuccessful and he was released earlier this month after just eight appearances. The Dutch international has since joined Qatari club Al-Gharafa. For it to work, the player has to want to prove something and embrace the challenge of doing so alongside less capable teammates.
Hatem Ben Arfa is the best example. A temperamental but utterly bewitching footballer when on form, he enjoyed his most productive ever season at Nice by a huge margin. So often a flighty and peripheral figure, he loved being the star attraction. The club depended on Ben Arfa and he delivered. There were 18 goals, including some spectacular solo efforts.
Score from a tight angle 😳
Take a bow 😁
All in a day's work for Mario Balotelli... 👏
This revival earned him a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where everything went awry. He didn’t cope well with the increased competition and hasn’t featured at all for the club this season as they have assembled an outstanding strikeforce. It’s a cautionary tale that, for some players, particularly those with sensitive egos, bigger is not always better. Balotelli would do well to bear this in mind.
The Italian striker should be wary of repeating the same mistake as rumours linking him with a move to Juventus gather pace. The attention has been hard won. He scored 17 goals last season, and already has 18 this, at a club far from challenging for honours in a lopsided league. Out of contract in the summer, he’s now free to discuss potential deals with foreign clubs.
The temptation to sign for a bigger side, and start competing for trophies again, is understandable, but Balotelli has won a lot without contributing much before. Although it might not be as glamorous, being an integral part of something smaller seems to suit him better. Nobody expects him to remain at Nice regardless, so the decision about where to go next needs to be the right one. Balotelli’s recovery will have been worth little if he slips up again.
