Balotelli open to play for Brazil’s Flamengo, say reports
RIO DE JANEIRO: Italian striker Mario Balotelli, who has been looking for a new club since his contract with Marseille ended in June, is open to playing for Flamengo, the Rio de Janeiro side said on Monday.
“There has been contact and he was interested in the idea of playing here,” Rodolfo Landim was quoted by Brazilian media as saying.
“He is a great player, without a doubt. But a lot can change before he signs with us.
“It’s true that he is free (from any contract),” Landim said, adding that Flamengo officials had already met the 28-year-old player in Europe.
Sky Sport in Italy reported at the weekend the possibility of Balotelli joining Flamengo for two and a half years.
The striker, who played for Italy in Brazil during the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup, has never hidden his fascination for the country’s football.
Siting in third spot in the Brazilian championship, Flamengo have been active in the transfer market recently, recruiting ex-bayern Munich defender Rafinha and former Atletico Madrid full-back Filipe Luis. It comes as Brazil captain Dani Alves returns home ater signing a threeyear deal with Sao Paulo. Spanish international Juanfran, another former Atletico player, is also joining the side, the club said Saturday.
Meanwhile, another Italian Cclub Fiorentina have signed Croatia midfielder Milan Badelj on a season-long loan from Lazio, the Stadio Artemio Franchi side announced on Monday.
Badelj returns to the Tuscan outfit just a year ater leaving for the Italian capital on a free transfer, with the club’s sporting director Daniele Prade revealing in an impromptu press conference they have an option to buy him at the end of the loan period.
“I had the choice to stay at Lazio or return here. I chose the later, even though I didn’t think there was any chance of it happening given that I let on a free,” the 30-year-old said at the conference.
Badelj, who spent four years at Fiorentina before his move to Lazio, has played more than 40 times for his country, scoring once as they reached the final of last year’s World Cup.
He won the Coppa Italia with Lazio last season, although he played no part in the final as Simone Inzaghi’s side ran out 2-0 winners over Atalanta.
Italian-american media magnate Rocco Commisso bought Fiorentina in June, ending the 17-year ownership of the Della Valle family led by billionaire Diego Della Valle, the head of luxury group Tod’s.