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Balotelli joins Marseille on contract until end of season

Balotelli joins Marseille on contract until end of season
© Reuters
The striker had been in fine goalscoring form since joining Nice from Liverpool in 2016.

Mario Balotelli has joined Marseille on a contract until the end of the season after leaving Nice.

The Italy striker had been poised to make the move at the start of the season but signed a contract extension at Nice when the transfer fell through.

Balotelli has failed to find the net in all 10 appearances this campaign but the 28-year-old finally got his move to Rudi Garcia's side after his contract was terminated by Nice on Wednesday.

Nice made the announcement of his departure with a statement on the club's official website which read: "While today officially marks the end of their collaboration, OGC Nice would like to thank Mario Balotelli for the last two and a half seasons.

"Already last season, there was talk of a transfer. But OGC Nice and the player decided to extend the relationship for another six months: One last challenge for everything that had gone before.

"And while it was the logical decision at the start of the season, the best option now is to part ways, with the termination of his contract, by mutual consent."

The former Inter Milan and Manchester City striker had been in prolific goalscoring form in Ligue 1 after leaving Liverpool for Nice in 2016.

Balotelli scored a total of 43 goals during his time on the French Riviera, 25 of which came in 36 appearances in all competitions last season, which earned him a recall to the Italy senior squad in May.

He was officially presented as a Marseille player shortly after Nice's announcement at a press conference, where it was confirmed he had signed a deal until the end of the season.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG18144048163246
2Marseille18114340211937
3Lille1888228171132
4MonacoMonaco189452920931
5Nice1886436251130
6Lyon188552922729
7Lens187652218427
8Toulouse187471919025
9Brest188192831-325
10StrasbourgStrasbourg186663130124
11Auxerre186482428-422
12Angers186482127-622
13Reims185672426-221
14Rennes1852112427-317
15NantesNantes183872128-717
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne1852111738-2117
17Le HavreLe Havre1841131437-2313
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier1833121843-2512


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