Nice striker Mario Balotelli has revealed why he thinks Serie A is better than France’s top league.
The Italian forward, who has endured a turbulent career, has travelled across the continent over the years – playing for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City, Liverpool and currently Nice.
The Palermo-born striker joined the latter last year from Liverpool on a permanent deal, after a tough time on Merseyside where he managed just a handful of goals.
And it initially proved to be a shrewd acquisition by Nice, with Balotelli scoring nine goals in his first ten league games.
Whilst Balotelli has managed just one since the start of February, the 26-year-old has discussed the differences between the French league and the other divisions he has plied his trade in.
“He (manager, Lucien Favre) wants players to work on pressing and all that. I don’t like defending, but modern football is like that, you have to work all week to be good at the weekend,” Balotelli told RMC.
“It is definitely a different League to what I was accustomed to in Italy and England. The referees are far more rigid than they are elsewhere and the top players are not protected, because if you get fouled 25 times, of course you’re going to react.
“I honestly thought that Ligue 1 was going to be easier, but it is very physical and tactical. However, Serie A is better than the French League, both in terms of organisation and the refereeing.”
Balotelli may have rediscovered his best form out in France since moving there last summer, but his temperament remains the same; he has been sent off three times in Ligue 1 this season.
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