According to information published by the Globo Esporte portal, Corinthians is no longer interested in signing Italian forward Mario Balotelli.
Negotiations, which were being conducted directly with the player, did not progress to the formalization of an official proposal.
Corinthians gave up on signing Mario Balotelli
- Several factors, including high costs and recent performance, influenced the decision;
- Coach Ramón Díaz vetoed the signing in his first press conference;
- Balotelli wanted eight million euros for a two-year contract.
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Why did Corinthians give up on signing Balotelli?
According to the ge.com website, several factors contributed to Corinthians’ decision not to proceed with the signing of the 33-year-old player. Among them, the high investment required for a player who has not shown good performance in recent years stands out, as well as the way the proposal was presented to President Augusto Melo.
Negotiation directly with the player
The suggestion to sign Balotelli came from Claudinei Alves, the current director of the club’s youth categories and a long-time friend of Augusto. Claudinei received the indication from a Brazilian agent who was mediating the contact.
Augusto Melo even spoke via video call with Balotelli, who expressed interest in playing in Brazil and recovering physically and mentally, even mentioning the desire to return to the Italian national team.
Another decisive factor was the absence of executive Fabinho Soldado in the negotiation. Augusto Melo believes in the importance of supporting Soldado’s work, which seeks signings aligned with the financial and technical profile necessary for the club.
High value
The amount requested by Balotelli was also a significant obstacle. The Italian wanted to receive eight million euros (around R$ 47.2 million at the current exchange rate) over two years of contract, which would equate to a monthly salary of 333,000 euros (approximately R$ 2 million). This would make him the highest-paid player on the current roster.
Ramón Díaz did not approve
The arrival of coach Ramón Díaz was crucial in the decision to abandon the signing. The Argentine coach vetoed any possibility of Balotelli during his first press conference, emphasizing that the club’s moment requires reorganization both on and off the field. For the coaching staff, the arrival of the Italian would bring more problems than solutions in the short term.
Balotelli in recent years
With stints at major clubs like Inter Milan, Milan, Manchester City, and Liverpool, Balotelli played 70 matches in the last three years, scoring 32 goals and providing five assists. His last club was Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
Corinthians still keeping an eye on the market
Corinthians is now focusing its efforts on signing other forwards to increase coach Ramón Díaz’s options for the remainder of the season. Recently, the club signed goalkeeper Hugo Souza, defender André Ramalho, and midfielder Alex Santana. Timão is also in advanced negotiations with midfielder Charles.
