Mario Balotelli was let go by Liverpool at the start of the season and the former AC Milan striker seems to have found the perfect home at Nice. The Ligue 1 side are surprisingly at the top of the table ahead of PSG and Monaco and the Italian has played a starring role for the side.

Balo has scored six goals in six Ligue 1 games for the side and even has a goal in the Europa League this season. This is a far cry from the player that scored just one Premier League goal for Liverpool in an entire season.

The Reds seem to have tried really hard to sell the Italian striker before Nice decided to take the plunge. The Premier League side also tried to sell him to Malaga according to the club’s sporting director, Francesc Arnau. The official of the Spanish club was speaking to Cadena Cope and said:

“Liverpool offered him [Balotelli] to us but we could not afford him. His salary is astronomical. He went to Nice because they produced an economically strong project. There was no possibility he could have come [here].”

Not a big surprise to see Balotelli linked with clubs

There really isn’t much of a surprise seeing the Italian being linked with a move to a Spanish side. The 26-year-old was seen to be surplus to requirements by Jurgen Klopp after a poor season for AC Milan away on loan.

Malaga though didn’t want to sign the player for the amount he is being paid at the moment. The Italian earns a reported €86,000 a week and that is something the La Liga club could not afford to pay, it seems.

Balotelli unhappy with treatment at Liverpool

The former Red had spoken out about his ill-treatment by Liverpool in recent interviews and once again spoke out about how it didn’t really work out under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp. Balo was a Rodgers signing but Klopp did not really give him a chance to prove his ability.

“The biggest disappointment I have had was with Brendan Rodgers. I had fun with him in training, but he was disastrous when it came to his relationship with his players”.

The Italian also had a bit of a pop at Klopp and stated that he did not have time at the club.

“I’ve got nothing against him [Klopp]. A situation had been created at Liverpool and he should have had more patience with me”.

Balotelli, though, should concentrate on his football now. After a long time, he has found a club where he is doing well and if he can keep performing at the level he is playing at the moment, he should end up winning some silverware with Nice or even an individual award.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDbzTp-yamU