Mario Balotelli is once again in headlines, however not for the reasons we have to expect.
The Daily Mail have reported that the Italian striker has taken a break from his pre-season training to befriend some ducks at his Liverpool home in an attempt to make some new friends on merseyside.
Balotelli’s grin is as wide as his face as he can be seen letting his pet ducks waddle around his home in the posts he shared on his social media accounts only a few days ago.
The story – while not groundbreaking – is an indication of the former Inter and AC Milan strikers fall from grace, where he has seen his career plummet over the past few years – turning from once prodigy of Jose Mourinho to now apparent waterfowl enthusiast.
It was only a mere few years ago that the 25-year-old was making the headlines for his sensational Manchester City form, controversial on pitch antics and his infamous ‘why always me?’ t-shirt.
Of course he was also making the headlines back then for setting off a host of fireworks in his bedroom, but it appears the days where anybody talked about his footballing ability alongside his comical off the field antics have long passed.
With Sampdoria allegedly interested in bringing back the former Italy international back to Serie A, it could be that Balotelli is able to salvage his dwindling career here in England. At only 25, the controversial star still has plenty of time and ability to offer, and our fans at the Transfer Tavern think he could just about salvage himself at one of these three Premier League clubs …..
Stoke
If Mark Hughes is able to control and bring the best form out of Marko Arnautovic – a man who Balotelli described as making him ‘look like a saint’ after the two became friends at Inter Milan – then reigning in the Liverpool striker should be no problem at all, right?
Stoke are in need of an out-and-out striker, and Balotelli could be the perfect fit playing in front of the talented but misfit midfield of Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan, Ibrahim Afellay and of course Arnautovic.
A team full of stars whose career plummeted in one description or another, that front line could be a dangerous and unpredictable one with Balotelli at the head of it.
Everton
Balotelli’s move to Liverpool can only be summed up as a failure. Signed by Brendan Rodgers in an attempt to replace Luis Suarez (really?), the Italian has failed to live up to his reputation at all, and after scoring only 4 times for the Anfield side in his first season was quickly sent out on loan to AC Milan last campaign.
Life was made difficult for the striker from day one at Anfield however, as the fans were already on his back with regards to his reputation and the enormous boots of Suarez he was left to fill.
Ronald Koeman is looking for a back-up striker at Everton, and what way better to prove his Liverpool doubters wrong than make the switch across the city and re-find his form.
Manchester United
A long-shot to say the absolute least, but could Balotelli make the unlikely switch to Old Trafford this summer and be re-united with his old manager Jose Mourinho and former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
While the Italian would almost certainly be a second or even third choice striker, there is no denying that Mourinho – who at times he had a difficult relationship with – managed to get the best out of him. The move would also be a huge kick in the teeth of Manchester City fans, who turned on their once loved hero during his tenure at the Etihad.
