Balotelli will stick with Nice ―Vieira

Nice have confirmed that striker Mario Balotelli will not be leaving the club despite seeming on the verge of an exit all summer.

The Italy hitman has resurrected his career with the Ligue 1 outfit after failing to make the grade at Liverpool and during a subsequent loan spell with Milan, but it appeared as though his days at the Allianz Riviera were numbered.

The former Manchester City star turned up late to pre-season training and coach Patrick Vieira has already stated that Balotelli had expressed a desire to move on.

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However, the club issued a statement on Monday night to make it clear the ex-Inter Milan ace will remain in the south of France.

“The decision is taken, well thought through,” it read. “Mario Balotelli has chosen to stay at OGC Nice.”

And the club then had a dig at rivals Marseille, who had been after the forward for some time.

“Made a little complicated at the start of the summer by another club from the south of France, the situation is back to normal,” the statement concluded.