Brescia forward Mario Balotelli has claimed President Massimo Cellino convinced him and revealed Hellas Verona tried. “I couldn’t have gone to Verona”.
The former Inter and Milan forward returned to Italy from Ligue 1 last summer and has scored five goals in 15 games for Le Rondinelle.
He admitted that he talked about the decision of moving back to “my city” with his mother and promised to go back for “one year”.
“I had other opportunities and when Cellino turned up, I spoke to my mother,” he told the Corriere dello Sport. “She was so happy, to the point that she cried.
“Brescia is my city and then I decided. One year, and then we’ll see.”
But the 29-year-old signed a three-year deal when he arrived in Lombardy and possible suitors will have to negotiate with Brescia if he should leave the club.
Balotelli also revealed that Hellas Verona were interested, but said he “couldn’t have gone” to the Gialloblu.
“It’s fair to talk. The President is unique, he knows how to convince you,” Balotelli said. “Verona also tried, [Verona President Maurizio] Setti had called Cellino to ask if he really was interested.
“He replied no, but three days later I signed. In any case, I couldn’t have gone to Verona, I am from Brescia.”
Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £11.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://subscribe.premiersports.tv/
More Stories
US star Megan Rapinoe tells BBC Sport about how taking a knee jeopardised her international career, and what the future holds for women’s football.
Australia’s corporate watchdog is in limbo as the Morrison government awaits the Thom review before deciding the fate of both ASIC and its chairman, James Shipton.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering found that alkali metal additives, such as potassium ions, can prevent lit