Mario Balotelli

Ricky1985

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/378982/Arsenal-lead-Monaco-in-RACE-to-sign-former-Manchester-City-striker-Mario-Balotelli

Couldn't find a thread for super Mario. As has been rumoured for a while, Milan/Berlusconi have reportedly lost patience with him and are looking for £20-25M for him.

I know he's got the gang of ex-Milan players slaughtering him left, right and centre, and I know he's a lazy little nutter half the time, BUT he's also incredibly talented and incredibly blessed physically, in terms of his speed, physique and athleticism. For the reported figure they're after, I think we have to take the opportunity. If Wenger can find a way to get the best out of him and mould Mario's game, to round it off so he can perform consistently as a top class centre forward, as he has managed to do with so many strikers before, Balotelli has the ability to belong on a list of the great Arsenal strikers.

(If there's already a thread, I'm sorry! Could a kind mod merge them for me. Cheers)

Klaus

We should sign him for that price even if we get another striker.

Irishgunner

Yes please! :drool:

ElGeniodeOviedo

My biggest gripe with him would be that's he not a great goal scorer so far in his career, and his overall game can go from great to crap in a matter of a few days depending on his mood. Would be a massive gamble

lorddulaarsenal

No thanks.

Saw him live and he looked clumsy as can be. Can be brilliant but is mostly a lazy lump and too inconsistent.

marv3llous

Only worth a gamble if Cavani or Benz are not available for us.

goon

He just needs to be loved.

I'm warming to the idea, might even take him over Benzema as I think he's got more to offer. But if we take him we need to accept his flaws too. Can't be surprised when he gets himself banned for a season when he throws a dart towards a referee after being laughed at for not being able to put his bib on.

Gazza M

was on board 6 months ago but ive changed my mind. I dont want us to sign a guy that vanishes when you least expect it. he's an even bigger enigma than mesut

DiabyKungFu

It should be noted that if we get Balotelli then we would be getting him for all of his prime years as opposed to Benzema/Cavani who are three years past the beginning of their primes.

y va marquer

He's not equipped mentally for being consistently brilliant for a top team, he'd just cause a lot of hassle here I reckon.

goon

I dunno why, think the environment is right for him personally. He'd be the main man here, something he wasn't at Inter or City, and he'd also have a good team around him, something he doesn't have at Milan.

He'd still probably kick off and have his mental issues but I do think Wenger could get the best out of him on the pitch.

Rex

Yes please! Balotelli would be a top signing.

Patters

A week ago we were told Milan don't want to sell and he doesn't want to go. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/9302733/transfer-news-mario-balotellis-agent-says-striker-is-staying-at-ac-milan

QuincyAbeyie

If we can get Balotelli for 20m, it is perhaps a better option than to buy Cavani for, say, 50m? Those 30m can quite possibly get us a Sanchez or Martinez (players of this quality, not comparing them).

JazzG

His talent is unquestionable but his attitude does leave a lot to be desired. Has had big falling outs at Inter, Man City & now AC Milan. Can we really afford to take the risk? If we already had a top class striker I'd be up for taking the risk but we need to get that position right this summer.

Gazza M

agree jazz. we need as close to a sure thing as possible. the only thing I have in balos favour is he will win us some big games, if he's in the mood. he has the quality and belligerence to hurt big teams. his output over a season wouldnt be much better than giroud this season imo

Rex

Our team would improve immensely with Balotelli instead of Giroud being the only change.
Also, we can well afford to 'gamble' on Balotelli for £25m.

y va marquer

Not for any sustained length of time it wouldn't.
I think he'd disrupt completely the harmony of the set-up that we have.
He's too big a character but not in any sense that has a permanent positive impact on the teams he's being playing with.
Sooner or later it becomes all about Mario.
I'd be dead against this signing, I don't buy the Arsene showing him love and bringing the best out of him angle.

lorddulaarsenal

Me neither. Stear clear. He'll get bored sooner or later and that's when it turns bad.

y va marquer

When scoring a goal like this doesn't give him any joy you know there's a problem