Speaking to L’Équipe last night, OGC Nice President Jean-Pierre Rivère reacted to his club’s own announcement that Mario Balotelli would be remaining with Les Aiglons for a third consecutive season, despite a protracted summer transfer saga involving rivals Marseille.
“Our club had a moral agreement with the player and his entourage to let him leave. We had the door open for him, so long as certain conditions were met, basically a fee worth between €4m and €5m. Marseille offered zero and then €2.5m, but never more than that… Mario was Marseille’s absolute priority, but they missed out on him for €1.5m.”
