Italian Third Tier Minnows Launch Optimistic Bid To Save Mario Balotelli From The Liverpool Doldrums

Chris Wright

25th, July 2015

By Chris Wright

As his client continues to dwindle idly at Liverpool, it’s no secret that Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola has been busy beavering away this summer attempting to engineer the ever-depreciating striker a move away from Anfield.

After just one miserable, largely barren season on Merseyside following his £16million arrival last summer, Balotelli has reportedly been offered to both AC and Inter Milan over the past month only to be given short shrift by both of his former clubs.

However, whenever God closes a door, he opens a window. To that end, it looks like one escape route back into Italian football has since opened up for Balotelli – though at a slightly less prestigious level than he is otherwise used to.

Lupa Castelli, a tiny provincial club that only formed two years ago and are currently playing in Lega Pro (the Italian third tier), have launched an ambitious bid to bring Balotelli back home.

President of Lupa Castelli, Marco Amelia, spoke to Sky Italia (via Di Marzio) and outlined his grand plan to sign Balotelli and help reboot the striker’s flagging career.

“Our intention is to bring our friend, Balotelli, here, a player who at this time needs to start afresh because we see that he does not want to play anymore, has fans opposing him and is no longer able to show his quality,” he said.

“For Balotelli, this could be the first step towards cleaning up his act, taking two steps back and showing everyone what he is capable of doing.”

“Six months here would be useful to him to start the path of purification. He must regain humility and enthusiasm that allowed him to break into football matters when he was starting out.”

“It will be difficult, almost impossible, but I will try anyway. I hope that the importance of the city of Rome and our friendship helps me.”

“I’ll try to call Mario Balotelli. On an economic point of view, we’ll see what happens. I think that at this time Mario needs to find the will he needs to compete.”

“It will be tough, it will be almost impossible as it is something that football has never seen, but he could do it.”

Ordinarily we’d dismiss this as a publicity stunt and a pretty weak one at that, but this is Mario Balotelli we’re talking about here…