Italian Striker Tipped For Summer Switch To North London

As we approach the business end of the season clubs are starting to make plans for the summer transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal and Tottenham are linked with Mario Balotteli.

Mario Balotelli could be set for a switch back to the Premier League after another bust-up in Italy with Arsenal and Tottenham tipped to move for the controversial Italian international, according the Express.

Balotelli started his career back in Serie A in fine form, scoring 12 goals in 13 games having made the move to AC Milan from Manchester City in January 2013. However, he’s suffered a drastic dip in form in recent months and put in another disappointing display as he was substituted during Milan’s 2-0 loss to Roma on Friday night.

After the game, he clashed with journalist Giancarlo Marocchi after the Sky Sports Italia pundit suggested the 23-year-old couldn’t be considered a top player as he still didn’t do enough off the ball. Balotelli snapped back, saying on live TV:

“You don’t understand anything about football. Trust me, you really don’t.

“It isn’t nice? I don’t care. I don’t care.

“I never said I’m a top player. I am a perfectly normal player, it will take time to become world class, but the reasons why I am not a top player are not the same reasons you think.

“Every game is different. If I didn’t get near the goal once tonight, then there has to be a reason.

“You always talk about me. When Milan win Mario’s great, when Milan lose it’s all Mario’s fault. You expect me to score five goals a game. I don’t need your criticism, I make my own criticism.

“You always talk and talk, say I’m precious to Italian football, but there’s no point to saying these things. No point.” Balotelli is quoted as saying by the Express.

The striker then took to Twitter where he claimed he divides opinion in his homeland and hinted that he’s more appreciated abroad. He said on his official Titter account:

“Mamma mia, I divide Italy in two! Amazing! While almost everyone overseas is united with me! What a strange game.”

This outburst is the latest in a long line of incidents involving Balotelli and it appears the Milan hierarchy have grown tired of his antics already with the Express suggesting the Italian giants are ready to cash-in on the striker at the end of the season.

A move back to the Premier League could therefore be on the cards with the newspaper claiming that Arsenal and Tottenham are ready to compete for his signature and fight it out to bring him to North London this summer.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is almost certain to be in the market for another front-man this summer after being heavily reliant on Olivier Giroud over the last two seasons and Balotelli would certainly offer something different in attack.

However, he doesn’t really seem like the type of character Wenger usually puts up with in his squad as the Frenchman has sold ‘troublemakers’ in the past, so it would be something of a surprise if he did go for the Italian international. Could Wenger finally be the man to tame Balotelli? I’m not convinced.

Tottenham would be a curious move as well as they already have a striker who’s notoriously difficult to handle in Emmanuel Adebayor, so it could be a nightmare if you pair the two strikers together next season.

There’s little doubt Balotelli is great entertainment value and he was loved by the British press simply because they knew he sold newspapers, but he’s also a fine player when he’s content. I’d love to see him back in English football next season but it will take a brave manger to take a punt on the volatile striker and I’d be surprised if he did end up making the move to North London this summer.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Spurs transfer news

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