Mario Balotelli is scoring for Nice and it's not a fluke
When Mario Balotelli signed with Nice, we had no idea what to expect. He's had a wildly checkered past, and if he didn't succeed in France, this was probably the last of Mario Balotelli as a European soccer player. But the reviews are in so far, and Nice Balotelli looks hungrier, more focused, and just better than he has in years.
How beautiful is that? But wait, there's more!
Nice are undefeated this year, and top of Ligue 1. That's in big part due to Balotelli. He's not only doing things like netting a brace over Monaco in the Derby de la Cote d'Azur, he's doing things like tracking back. I saw, with my own two eyes, Balotelli run from the attacking half, into his own half, and make a tackle just outside his own box. This is not a man to be trifled with. To say that, at least for a few matches, he looks like a new Balotelli isn't an exaggeration.
Balotelli's largely stayed out of the headlines over the last couple years. A daughter, a new, more mature perspective that comes with age, and the shocking realization that "whoa, I really might have to go play in China", seems to have made him, well, an adult.
Despite his surly reputation, Balotelli was always just a big kid. He played pranks, he goofed off in practice, and he generally just seemed not to take being a pro athlete seriously. His time at Liverpool was an unmitigated disaster, and they quickly packed him off to Milan. Even then, it looked like it might be his last chance to make something of himself.
Balotelli stayed out of trouble in Milan, but he just couldn't find the goals. He scored one in 20, and that wasn't nearly good enough for them to extend the Mario Balotelli Show for a residency at the San Siro. It looked like Balo was set for China, or maybe MLS.
But then Nice came calling. The same tiny Nice who revived Hatem Ben Arfa's career before gift wrapping him to Paris Saint-Germain. And it looks like the waters of the French Riviera have revived Balotelli as well.
New Nice manager Lucien Favre helped nurture attacking talents like Marco Reus, Max Kruse and Raffael at Borussia Monchengladbach, and his influence seems to be paying dividends with Balotelli. Not only is he scoring, he's working hard, and he's leading his team to victories.
Before you open your mouth to protest, yes. He's playing in France. No, it's not Spain, or England, or Germany, or Italy. But it's a good, challenging, professional league, and Balotelli is doing well in it.
It may be too soon to say Balotelli is all the way back. It's been a couple games, but it sure has been a good couple games.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER:
Balotelli's league record for Nice: 135 minutes, 3 goals.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 21, 2016
Balotelli's league record in 2014/15 & 2015/16 combined: 36 games, 2 goals. pic.twitter.com/om2TdrQ5FV
Mario Balotelli's Ligue 1 career by numbers for Nice:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 21, 2016
2 games
2 wins
4 goals
100% shot acc.
Super Mario is back! pic.twitter.com/Lf6mR4U9pe
