Sampdoria manager Vincenzo Montella has revealed that the Italian club are interested in the possibility of taking striker Mario Balotelli for next season. Montella only took over from Walter Zenga in November after the Genoa club had a poor start to the season, and speaking to the Corriere Dello Sport (quoted by Football Italia), he mentioned Balotelli when asked about his own future:
“Yes, I have a contract and we’re already planning the coming season. We’ll see if Mario can be used in the squad.A team isn’t just a roster. You need the players to coexist and to perform well together. Balotelli has great potential, but, like some other players, he can’t always express it at his best.”
There is growing doubt that Milan will want to keep Balotelli at the end of the season as the Rossoneri have no obligation to buy the player from Liverpool as part of the current loan agreement. It has been suggested that Milan may only wish to extend the loan, paying half the striker’s wages or, if on a permanent deal, they would want the Reds to reduce their €10million asking price. Balotelli was bought by the Reds for £16million back in 2014 but performed poorly and was loaned out by Brendan Rodgers at the start of this season, In a recent press conference current manager Jurgen Klopp would not be drawn on the player’s future.
