Balotelli stays with Nice for another year
He’s staying. Italian striker Mario Balotelli has put to rest speculation regarding his next career move, as reports from the Daily Mail and Sky Sports amongst others announce that he has elected to sign a 1 year contract extension to stay in the south of France with French club OGC Nice. The reports suggest that Balotelli agreed to take a significant pay cut in order to sign a new contract with the French club, choosing what is best for his footballing career over money.
Failing to settle in to a club in recent years after a promising start early in his career, Balotelli seemed to revitalize himself at Nice last season, which was the ultimate factor in his choice to stay for another year. His comeback at the French club was marked by finding the back of the net 17 times, and playing an influential role in the club finishing 3rd place in the French Ligue 1 and clinching a Champions League qualifying spot.
The resurrection of his career at OGC Nice hasn’t gone unnoticed, as his performance has caught the attention of clubs such as Dortmund and Besiktas. But, Balotelli decided staying with the club he discovered newfound success at is where he should play in the upcoming season. Balotelli expressed on his social media accounts his happiness in choosing to stay with OGC Nice for at least another season, and many wonder if the striker will be able to keep the momentum going into the next season as well.