Balotelli Incurs Vieira

By Max Wise

OGC Nice Striker, Mario Balotelli, has incurred the wrath of his manager, Patrick Vieira, after he put in a lackluster performance against Nimes at the weekend.

Nice won the game 1-0 but Vieira was unimpressed with the Italian, describing his performance as “less than average”.

Balotelli has failed to score or provide an assist in seven Ligue 1 appearances this season.

Balotelli had just 27 touches before he was substituted – the least of any Nice player, and second-least of any player on the pitch – while he had just two shots on target, and Vieira was less than impressed.

“We didn’t put enough pressure on our opponent. Just like Mario Balotelli, we were less than average,” Vieira told reporters after the game.

 “We take the three points, but we come home with the feeling that there is still a lot of work to be done. In the future, we will have to produce better displays than tonight to continue our progress.”

The former Liverpool, Man City, AC Milan, and Inter Milan forward has impressed during his time in France scoring 33 goals in 51 League appearances for Nice but is yet to rediscover his scoring form this season.