On this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, Sydney Morning Herald reporter Vince Rugari revealed he has spoken to Mario Balotelli’s management – and the ex-Premier League striker is interested in a move to the A-Leagues next season.
Could we see Mario Balotelli playing in the Isuzu UTE A-League?
The UEFA Champions League and Premier League winner is certainly open to it, is according to his management – as was revealed on this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues.
Balotelli is currently on the books of Serie A side Genoa but the former Inter, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool striker is reportedly weighing up his future having only joined the Italian side in October.
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The 34-year-old and 36-time Italy international – who was a Euro 2012 runner-up – has managed just 57 minutes of action across six substitute appearances since joining Genoa.
Sydney Morning Herald reporter and Total A-Leagues host Vince Rugari has previously said Balotelli “would be open to an offer from the A-League but has received zero offers so far” with Central Coast Mariners boss Mark Jackson hilariously playing down the talk.
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On this week’s episode, Rugari put forward the case for an A-Leagues side to sign the mercurial Italian.
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“I keep going on about this and it almost feels like a one-man crusade, I don’t care,” said Rugari.
“I have contacted his management and they are happy for it to be known he is keen to come to Australia next season.
“He is still contracted to Genoa. He is not playing. If he was to somehow get a release from Genoa, I’d image he’d be available here.
“I don’t know what he’s asking. I know clubs have looked at him in the past and thought no thank you for self-evident reasons around discipline and all that sort of stuff.
“Part of me though, the devil on my shoulder is whispering ‘just do it’.”
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Retired Socceroo and former A-Leagues star Tommy Oar added: “What is there to lose?
“The amount of excitement and hype it would create around the league would be amazing.
“I still think he’s a fantastic player. Obviously he comes with all the baggage but we’ve seen other players, lower profile, come to Australia and re kick-start their careers and players with similar kinds of characters.”
Rugari replied: “You can’t compare anyone to Mario Balotelli, especially in this space because the dude threw darts at his teammates, lit fireworks in his bathroom. That’s different planet level stuff.
“But Douglas Costa was getting hounded by fans in Brazil and people in MLS who saw him play thought he was washed. He seemed to not be in love with the game but he came to Sydney and he looks happy, he looks like a great player.”
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Oar continued: “We’ve seen Jason Cummings, he is another player who had massive off-field dramas, came to Australia and flourished.
“We’re making a strong case for Mario Balotelli to come, so hopefully some of the owners are listening (laughing).”
