If there are football gods they would allow for Ajax to sign Mario Balotelli.
Balotelli might not seem like someone worth saving. Chance after chance, year after year the Italian international is given opportunities to prove that he is worth all of the problems. Yet it seems like every place he goes to it seems like things never work out.
At the age of 25 his chances of actually fulfilling his potential are running out. Which is why now is the time for him to head to Ajax.
In a report from Football Italia it was revealed that Balotelli is in negotiations with Serie A side Chievo Verona. While that seems to make sense given that he is from Italy and has had the most success playing in Serie A two other teams are listed as potential landing spots: Ajax and Galatasaray.
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Balotelli, 25, scored just 3 goals in 23 appearances while on loan with AC Milan last season. He still technically owned by Liverpool although it appears that the team is very interested moving him.
Of the three places that listed Ajax would be the best fit for Balotelli. First, Ajax is renowned for their work with strikers. When you look at Ajax’s history their rosters are littered with some of the greatest strikers in world football. Also given that Total Football is built around having athletic forwards that are good at passing it would seem to be a good fit for Balotelli’s style.
Ajax also has a history dealing with players with checkered past. The more recent example is Luis Suarez. Suarez had multiple incidents while playing with the club, including a biting incident that put him out of the lineup for seven matches. Despite this he was able to turn his career around with the club, netting 111 goals in 158 matches. This is also a very different Ajax club with the team hiring Peter Bosz, a no-nonsense manager, in the offseason.
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In the end, it will be up to Liverpool to decide where Balotelli goes. Although Verona seems to be offering the most money it may not be the best spot for him to grow as a player. It would be a shame if Balotelli never lives up to the promise that he originally showed with Manchester City.
He needs to find a spot where he can grow, where he can play without any real expectations, and where he can hopefully turn himself into a quality footballer. Ajax would give him the best chance to do this.