He’s now finally cut his losses with Liverpool after two bleak years at Anfield but Mario Balotelli rejected the chance to play Champions League football this season, report The Express.
Now at Nice of course, it’s been revealed that fellow Ligue 1 side Lyon saw a bid rejected for the maverick Italian striker in the recent summer transfer window.
Speaking to French publication L’Equipe, Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere claimed: “Yes, Jean-Michel Aulas (the Lyon president) has attempted to recruit Balotelli.
“I learned the day before but it’s okay, it’s part of the game.”
Starting his Nice career positively after registering a brace against Marseille on his debut for the Cote d’Azur side, Balotelli also figured in the inferior Europa League last week.
With Lyon finishing two places higher than Nice while qualifying for the Champions League last season, it appears playing at the top tier of European football wasn’t a key motivation for Balotelli at this stage of his career.
As for Lyon, their hunt for extra striking reinforcements continues after Bruno Genesio’s side opted out of a deal to sign former Arsenal and Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor recently.