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Mario Balotelli has been linked to half the clubs in Turkey and the Chinese Super League and at least one side in the Bundesliga and with almost every club in Italy’s Serie A from the biggest giants to the smallest minnows. A deal was meant to have been all but done with Ajax only for the Dutch club to go with Chelsea’s Bertrand Traore instead.
Now, with nobody abroad interested, he’s started being linked with clubs in England. Newly promoted sides, lower league sides. Even sides Liverpool would generally never do business with are popping up. Today it’s Everton and Manchester United who have been linked with Balotelli. Which seems bizarre and unlikely. To put it mildly.
In both cases, it’s the Italian press pushing the rumours, which just adds another reason beyond the obvious ones to think neither club is actually interested in Balotelli. Still, freelance journalist Alfredo Pedulla is claiming that Everton are serious suitors for Balotelli. Which would at least allow Balotelli to change clubs without having to change homes.
Beyond that, it’s not a rumour that makes sense. But it does at least make more sense than Gazetta World linking Balotelli to Manchester United, as they claim agent Mino Raiola is trying to use the fact he got Paul Pogba to re-sign with United as leverage in getting a move there for Balotelli. Which seems like it would make no sense for Balotelli.
Getting stuck with United’s reserves doesn’t seem like it would be any better for the 26-year-old’s career than getting stuck with Liverpool’s. At least, when you’re talking about rumours that aren’t actually going to happen, Everton might offer the player a chance to revive his career—albeit a slim chance. United would offer none whatsoever.
Mostly, then, what these two latest rumours show is just how bizarre the situation has become. Because when every other club on the planet seems to have been linked with a move for Mario Balotelli, why not link him with a short hop to one of Liverpool’s two biggest rivals?