Nice striker Mario Balotelli feels they blew the chance to win Ligue 1 in 2016-17 – “Monaco didn’t win, we lost”.
The Italian international sat down to talk to Les Aiglons’ official YouTube channel, and he reflected on the season which saw them qualify for the Champions League.
“Last year I wasn’t happy,” Balotelli confirmed.
“Even when we had the party in the stadium after [the season] I really wasn’t happy. Monaco didn’t win, we lost.
“I didn’t like it.”
Nice striker Mario Balotelli feels they blew the chance to win Ligue 1 in 2016-17 – “Monaco didn’t win, we lost”.
The Italian international sat down to talk to Les Aiglons’ official YouTube channel, and he reflected on the season which saw them qualify for the Champions League.
“Last year I wasn’t happy,” Balotelli confirmed.
“Even when we had the party in the stadium after [the season] I really wasn’t happy. Monaco didn’t win, we lost.
“I didn’t like it.”
Balotelli has played in England, Italy and France, does Nice feel more like his home country?
“Yes, everyone understands Italian and it’s very close to Italy. It’s not that different.
“I used to live away, in England, and it’s nothing like Italy. For me it was easier to be here.
“The leagues? I think the English and the French are very similar. Maybe it’s a bit more physical here than in England, even if England is physical too.
“It [the Premier League] is more difficult to be honest because the players are better, but the football is kind of similar.
“Italy is different, it’s more tactical and I don’t think it’s anything like French or English football.”
Super Mario was then asked what he loves about football.
“I’ve loved it since I was three years old, and as long as I like it this way I’ll play. I love to play, I love to have the ball at my feet.
“I don’t like to watch TV or look at the games, even before the match. We do videos of the other team and I don’t like it. I don’t like football like that, I like to play football.
“If I have to learn something or if I have to watch better players, better strikers, to see how they move or how they do things then maybe, yes, sometimes, but just actions, not the full game.”
Balotelli is famously reticent in talking to the media…
“Firstly I don’t like to talk,” he explained.
“Secondly, every time I talk the newspapers and television take what I say and they change it, they talk about it for a month.
“I like to focus on my football without talking, and if I have to say something I’ll say it on a Sunday when I play.
“I say it by playing and scoring and playing good games. That’s the best answer.
“I think the media create a person [caricature] of me, and this person attracts people before the footballer.
“The real Mario is what I am when I’m at home, with my kids or my mum. Here I come to work so I’m focused on my job, though it’s a game and I have fun.”