COULD Balotelli do a Ben Arfa at OGC Nice?

The Ligue 1 side seem to be fast becoming the ground at which players resurrect their careers. As was with the case of Ben Arfa, Dante and Balotelli are now present. Could Balotelli move onto greater things? Only time would tell. Nice finished fourth in the just concluded campaign in a largely impressive season. The club has been a little successful in the league having won it four times and the Coupe De France on three occasions mostly in the 50s though with their last success coming in 1997 when they won the Coupe de France final against Guingamp 43 on penalties.

They are fast becoming the Athletico Madrid of the Ligue 1. Over the course of the weekend, they battered league leaders Monaco 5-0, a game which Balotelli scored a brace. Despite low revenue and expenditure, they could be the one to break PSG’s monopoly in the league. They seem to be tenacious, playing their style to reap rewards.

Like Mario Balotelli, Ben Arfa also had that “Bad Boy “reputation on him. The 29-year old joined Nice in the 2015-2016 season. His professional career started with Olympic Lyon before having stints with Marseille, Newcastle United and Hull City. A prodigal talent who was on a rise graced the English Premier League.  He mesmerised fans with his skills and dribbling ability. A new gem was born, you would have thought. Once complemented as “one of the best talents in France,” sky seemed the starting point for the young Frenchman who ultimately fell to the allures of being young- a lack of discipline. Issues ranging from coming late to training to total disappearance were synonymous to him. He was a sight to behold. Ben Arfa produced a moment of genius in 2012 dribbling past four hapless Bolton Wanderers players after picking the ball in his half to net a wonderful solo goal in a Messi-esque style. It shows how the man has fallen.

On the 9th of June, 2015, Ben Arfa joined OGC Nice on a one year contract. Just like Balotellis’, the move was said to be a “one chance” deal. Instead, in a short while he would make the Allianz Oliviera a hallow ground for himself, he made it his own. He practically carried the team on his shoulders throughout the 2015-2016 season helping them to a fourth place finish. He produced 17 goal, 6 assists in 34 matches, an average of one goal every two matches. Created chances for his teammates, 33 to be precise. He reached new heights following his nomination for Ligue 1’s best player of the season despite losing it to Zlatan. A move to Ligue 1 giants, PSG was sealed on the back of an excellent campaign. Nice gave Ben Arfa the much needed breathing ground to expess himself, he did appreciatively.

As Mourinho pointed out , “with kids, you never know.” So is Balo’s case, he was supposed to rock Italian football after breaking into the  World scene at 17 years of age. Super Mario has moved to the same ground leaving on a free from Liverpool as he would not feature whatsoever in Jurgen Klopp’s plans.”At the end of the day, Balotelli was a player of  Liverpool and you need to treat him with respect and Klopp didn’t do that,” said Raiola on how his player was treated at the club. You don’t want to blame Klopp, he has avoided a “ticking time bomb” as he doesn’t want to have to cope with the furor of  just one player.

Balotelli had promise coupled with the talent, his character was and is his bane. He floundered across Europe’s top leagues making controversies his best friend and companion. The “why always me” man parties a lot, not that it is a bad thing but he lacks restraint. Nightclubs in Nice must be in ecstasy over the enigmatic forward’s arrival. A turbulent childhood saw him ditch his parents’ Ghanaian name, at Manchester City, he burnt his home, fought teammates, at Internazionale and Milan, blasted reporters are some of his deeds. He had no respect for coaches either.

Make no mistake, his ability on the football pitch is not in doubt, his wayward style is the problem. He once claimed that only Lionel Messi is above him in the pecking order after winning 2010’s Golden Ball. His not fussed nature and attitude makes him a yard above his fellows. At 26-years of age, the Italian is not getting younger as it is an age when football players hit their peak. The association with his new club was unmitigated, when Nice’s President realised that Mario was available, he ordered the club to snatch him up after losing a Ligue 1 game. He wasn’t concerned about his reputation; he is with his abilities as a footballer. Yet Carragher felt Nice paid over the odds for the striker despite moving on a free- Surely free means another thing in his dictionary. He has already started to repay that trust. Netted two goals on his debut and another two goals over the weekend as OGC Nice beat Monaco. For every Gascoigne, there’s a Ronaldo. The ability to overcome challenges is what defines us.

The move is clearly dicey, both parties can only hope for the best.Ligue 1 is set for a treat, in his first press conference, when asked by a reporter about his fitness, he said the reporter must be unintelligent to ask the question as it doesn’t make any sense. No more Zlatan in Ligue 1, Super Mario is a different entity entirely. There promises to be no dull moments. Balotelli could yet create his own dynasty at the Allianz Oliviera. The pair could be a match made in heaven. Nice salvaged Ben Arfa’s career, salvation might lie in store for Balotelli himself. Nice, the ground where players straighten their paths? It could soon apply as Balotelli bids to kick-start a new phase of his troubled career.

Share on Google Plus

About Fedamin

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.