Genoa based Italian newspaper Secolo XIX has come out with the news that AC Milan is putting star striker Mario Balotelli on the transfer market after being told to do so by club President Silvio Berlusconi.
The newspaper claims that the decision was made by Berlusconi and his daughter Barbara who is also a director at the club after the President decided that the gut feeling he had over the Italian was right and that the striker would be problematic for the team.
Apparently Burlusconi was heard saying “I’ve had enough and the decision is made. Mario is officially on the market and we need to sell him before the end of January.”
The story has so far not been taken further by reliable sources yet it would make sense that he could be for sale when the club needs cash and the fact except for a couple of performances Balotelli has failed to deliver the goods.
The price tag expected for Balotelli will be in the region of $38 million, and while Secolo thinks PSG and Monaco are likely destinations , I would think that there is as much chance of him going to Chelsea seeing as Jose Mourinho knows him well from his time at Inter Milan.
Arsenal is also on the lookout for a striker to back up Oliver Giroud, and while Wenger might not seem like the type of manager that wants to be bothered by a troublesome player he has had to deal with Nicklas Bendtner over the years and was prepared to sign Luis Suarez last summer.
This is huge news if it turns out to be true, and I am sure we will hear more in the next few hours.
The club has just issued a statement saying that Balotelli will not be leaving and that he remains an AC Milan player.
