Mario Balotelli: West Ham Lead Chase for Frustrated Inter Wonderkid: Spurs, Chelsea, Everton, Aston Villa, Newcastle & Liverpool Alerted!
West Ham are reportedly leading a host of Premier League clubs in the chase for the newest sensation in Italian football, the 18-year-old Inter striker Mario Balotelli.
The youngster of Ghanaian descent was born in Palermo and broke into Serie C1 side Lurnezzane at the tender age of 15. He made 2 League appearances for the club until some of the biggest clubs in Europe moved in for him such as Manchester United, Barcelona and Fiorentina. However, it was Milan giants Inter that won his much sought after signature. However, after falling out with Jose Mourinho over a lack of first team football the teenager may well leave the San Siro either on loan or permanently which has alerted a number of English clubs.
The striker was signed on a 3-year deal which is the longest contract a youth team player can have in Italy. Balotelli made his first team debut for Inter in December 2007 as a last minute substitute. However, just 3 days later he scored 2 goals on his full debut in the Coppa Italia. He’s since scored 9 goals in just 27 games for his club (17 starts). The youngster won the Serie A title last season and played the full 90 minutes of the Copa Italia final defeat to Roma. This season Balotelli has played 12 times for new manager Jose Mourinho but only scored once (6 starts) and is continually being linked to a move to the Premier League with Chelsea eager to sign a forward to compete with the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka for a starting berth. He has not featured in Serie A since December 20th as he falls further down the Inter pecking order.
Despite his tender years the striker has openly spoken of his disappointment of not playing more games this season and his desire to leave the club. However, Inter and Italian legend Alessandro Altobelli has urged the youngster to stay at the club.
“Balotelli is young and has great qualities, but he has to show them,” Altobelli told Tuttomercatoweb.com.
“I think Mourinho is managing him well and he has to stay on. One game at Inter is worth 10 with another team for the striker.
“Perhaps some mistakes have been made, but he should stay.”
The starlet has stated his ambition to play for Italy and has rejected the overtures from Ghana’s national team. Due to the fact his adoption was never finalised as a child he was not able to gain Italian citizenship until August which meant he missed out on playing for the Italians at youth level. However, he soon was called into Pierluigi Casiraghi’s U21 squad and scored twice in their 3-1 Euro qualifying win over Israel on Wednesday to seal their qualification to the finals in Sweden next summer.
Balotelli is already renowned as one of the most exciting young talents in European football and was tipped to act as a makeweight in the Italian side’s chase for Frank Lampard last summer. At 6 ft 2 and in the Micah Richards mould in terms of physique he would have the physical attributes to succeed in England. His future has been the subject of much speculation after he reportedly asked for assurances that he would be guaranteed first team football despite being 18 and playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world so he’s not low on confidence.
Balotelli signed a new contract until 2011 in the summer but speculation still remains concerning his long-term future. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton have all reportedly been watching the youngster in view to bringing him to England whilst he would be a useful signing for a number of clubs including Aston Villa and Newcastle who are looking to bring in more physical strength to their forward line. It’s reported that the youngster is available for loan so wouldn’t be much of a gamble. However, West Ham’s Italian connections may hold the key to a deal that sees ‘Super Mario’ move to Upton Park.
Whether he stays or goes, expect to hear a whole lot more about Mario Balotelli for many years.
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Tags: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Mario Balotelli, Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham
