Mario Balotelli admits he wasn’t initially convinced by Nice, but now he won’t rule out staying with the French club.
The striker is out of contract at the end of next month, and is widely expected to move on because Les Aiglons will struggle to afford his wages.
However, having initially been unsure about joining the Ligue 1 side, Super Mario isn’t ruling out a stay.
Mario Balotelli admits he wasn’t initially convinced by Nice, but now he won’t rule out staying with the French club.
The striker is out of contract at the end of next month, and is widely expected to move on because Les Aiglons will struggle to afford his wages.
However, having initially been unsure about joining the Ligue 1 side, Super Mario isn’t ruling out a stay.
“I was thinking about coming here to train and play well to get back in form, that was my priority,” Balotelli admitted, speaking to Nice’s official YouTube channel.
“I wasn’t really thinking what I could do with the team, being first or second… I wasn’t thinking about that, though I was hoping to have a good season.
“This season I’ve started to feel good physically, and my attitude, and I think when you feel physically fit you can work better.
“I’m a father now, I have two kids and I have a calm life and that happened when I was here. I’ve matured a lot, also because I’m getting older. It’s normal.
“Why did I stay for a second year? I spoke with the President. I like him, he convinced me the first time and he didn’t really have to convince me the second time, I already wanted to stay.
“He believed in me and he really believed I could improve Nice.
“To be honest the first year I came here I wasn’t very convinced. I was like: ‘I don’t know if I can improve a club’. But he saw it better than me, and I really have to thank him for believing in me.
“I will always have, any time if I leave – if – I will always have good memories. The stadium, the fans, the staff, the Coach, my teammates. Everyone who works for the club.
“I’ll always be happy to come back and say hi to everybody, because I’ll always have Nice in my heart.
"The future? I never really think about that. I don't want to think too far [ahead].
"I want to concentrate on what comes during the week and next week I'll think about next week, the week after I'll think about the week after.
"To be honest I don't know anything about my future."
Balotelli was then asked what kind of legacy he'll leave in Nice.
"I never ask myself this, but I hope it'll be good. I can say to the supporters that I'll always be grateful for the way they accepted me here and they way they've treated me.
"I feel really at home. Really."
Super Mario is known for his eccentric ways on and off the pitch, does he consider himself a special player.
"Yes, I am," Balotelli smiled.
"I don't know why. That's why I'm special. If I knew I wouldn't be special…"