The former Inter Milan and Manchester City striker has confirmed plans to head to the Serie B for his next career move.
Mario Balotelli has confirmed reports he’ll be joining Serie B side AC Monza on a short-term contract, pending the outcome of a medical on Monday.
The 30-year-old striker had been without a club since leaving the relegated Brescia in July. He was linked with a return to England with Barnsley in the Championship, along with Brazilian club Vasco da Gama.
But Balotelli ultimately favored staying in his native Italy and has agreed to reunite with former AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi and CEO Adriano Galliani to help Monza win promotion to the Serie A.
Mario Balotelli is on the verge of joining Monza (Berlusconi/Galliani’ team in Serie B). Medicals will be on Monday.
Reunited in red 🔴
📰 via Sky Italia – Di Marzio pic.twitter.com/dm6EgUEea4
— Italian Football TV 🔟💙 (@IFTVofficial) December 5, 2020
“I thank the president Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani for this opportunity,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport as quoted by Goal. “I will do everything to help Monza reach Serie A.”
Once a medical is completed, Balotelli will put pen-to-paper on a contract for the rest of the season. If Monza win promotion to the top-flight, he’ll have an option to extend his stay for another campaign.
“Mario is a good guy and even today in our interview I had confirmation of this,” said Galliani.
“After all, I repeated it to him: ‘Don’t trust flatterers. If necessary, you will hear my criticism, but they will be for your good.’ I saw the understanding in his eyes, the reaction I was looking for.
“The turning point was Mario’s availability, but also that of [his agent] Mino Raiola who renounced any commission. Then we began to negotiate, already knowing that we would come to an agreement. So much so that both accepted that I was I do the figures.”
Another former AC Milan player in Kevin-Prince Boateng also joined Monza back in September.
The White and Reds sit seventh in the Serie B standings and eight points behind leaders Salernitana at the time of writing.
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