FORMER Premier League star Mario Balotelli has reportedly been snubbed by Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters over two key concerns.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool star is a free agent after leaving Turkish side Adana Demirspor for a second time.
Balotelli, 34, is yet to find any takers after a rollercoaster career that’s seen him play for 12 different clubs.
But reports in India claimed Kerala Blasters were lining up a surprise move.
They were tempted to offer a proposal making Balotelli the biggest name in the Indian Super League.
However, Kerala Blasters eventually decided to pull the plug on a deal for two reasons.
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Goal claims the first was that chiefs believed it to be an unrealistic move, with Balotelli’s standing in the game “intimidating.”
And the second was that the Italian’s bad-boy image was also too hot to handle.
It now means Balotelli, who won a Premier League title with City after scoring 30 goals in 80 games, remains on the hunt for a new home.
His travels around Europe have seen him play in Italy, France, England, Turkey and Switzerland.
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And Balotelli is yet to try his luck further afield, with Saudi Arabia proving to be a popular destination for ageing stars.
His transfer dilemma comes after footage emerged of him in July falling over in the street during a boozy night out.
Balotelli, a Treble winner with Inter Milan in 2010, was caught on camera enjoying himself with pals.
But he appeared to have had a bit too much to drink, with Balotelli seen lying on the floor as friends attempted to lift him up,
And after getting criticised for his behaviour, 36-time Italy international Balotelli fired back on social media.
He said: “I wanted to tell you that I saw the video where I fall down with my friends, we roll around, joke, run.
“I don’t see the problem with having a night out with friends, having fun and joking around, without hurting anyone.
“What am I being judged for? Why didn’t you show all the photographs and videos I made with people? I was open to everyone.
“Instead, after Italy play like that, the news that goes around is that I’m drunk… Come on, let’s think about important things.”
Mario Balotelli’s career stats
Those numbers in full:
- Lumezzane, 2005-2006: 2 games, 0 goals
- Inter Milan, 2006-2010: 86 games, 28 goals
- Man City, 2010-2013: 80 games, 30 goals
- AC Milan, 2013-2014: 54 games, 30 goals
- Liverpool, 2014-2015: 28 games, 4 goals
- AC Milan, 2015-2016: 23 games, 3 goals
- Nice, 2016-2018: 76 games, 43 goals
- Marseille, 2018-2019: 15 games, 8 goals
- Brescia, 2019-2020: 19 games, 5 goals
- Monza, 2020-2021: 14 games, 6 goals
- Adana Demirspor, 2021-2022: 35 games, 19 goals
- Sion, 2022-2023: 19 games, 6 goals
- Adana Demirspor, 2023-2024: 16 games, 7 goals
- Italy, 2010-2018: 36 games, 14 goals
- Trophies: Serie A x3, Italian Cup, Italian Super Cup, Champions League (Inter Milan); Premier League, FA Cup (Man City)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
