Serie A: Moratti says Price not right yet
Inter Milan’s president Moratti has come out and said that Inter will not sell Balotelli until their evaluation of the player’s financial worth is met. Balotelli has attracted suitors from all over Europe, including the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City who are in a race to sign Italy’s promising young striker.
Balotelli has not been shieded away from controversy during his time at Inter Milan; he has had disagreements with his previous coaches and has not been featured regularly for his club. Balotelli has also suffered a lot of racial abuse from various club fans in Italy because of his skin color.
The Italian striker is a Ghanaian born footballer, who grew up as an A.C Milan fan. Inter Milan and A.C Milan’s city rivalry has not helped Balotelli's cause with his clubs own fans. He has been jeered off the field several times by Inter Milan’s own fans as well.
On Thursday July 15th, Moratti admitted that it would be very sad if Balotelli indeed left Inter Milan for any other club. He said that according to him, both Manchester United and Manchester City are serious in their pursuit of the Italian striker. He also added that both the Manchester clubs are sensible enough to estimate Balotelli’s transfer value.
Moratti’s comments came several hours after Inter’s sporting director Marco Branca said that Balotelli was not for sale and that he was priceless to the Milanese club. Moratti further added that it will be up to Inter Milan at the end to assess whether the bids that are being offered to them for their star striker are in accordance with their own evaluations or not.
Inter Milan’s president also admitted that it would be a disappointing situation, but Inter have to deal with figures before selling their striker, who has been seen by many as the future of Italian football as well as Inter Milan. At just 19 years of age, Balotelli has his best years ahead of him and Inter Milan will be looking to earn a fair share of compensation if they are indeed to lose their striker.
Former A.C Milan coach Carlo Ancelloti has also stated that the English Premier League will suit Balotelli. Moratti also said that Balotelli had recently started training with the rest of Inter Milan’s squad and his efforts in training have been very serious. He also added that Inter will be monitoring his situation as more bids come in from interested clubs.
Balotelli has played 59 games in total for Inter Milan, who signed him from his childhood club Lumezzane in 2007 when he was just 17 years old. Mario Balotelli made his first team debut in Serie A for Inter Milan against Cagliari in December of 2007. The Italian striker, who further impressed through his two goals against Juventus in Coppa Italia, is known to be quite temperamental.
After his disciplinary problems during the 2008-2009 season and the 2009-2010 season, Balotelli released a statement on Inter Milan’s website apologizing to the fans and his team mates. Through his statement he said that his behavior in the future would be much more appropriate. He also expressed his wishes with regard to playing frequently for Inter Milan.
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