Balotelli Targets Long-Term Marseille Stay

By Max Wise

Mario Balotelli has reiterated his desire to stay at Olympique Marseille for a long time after making an impressive start to life at the Stade Velodrome.

Balotelli terminated his contract with OGC Nice in January before joining Marseille on a deal that runs until the end of the season.

The maverick Italian striker failed to score in 10 Ligue 1 games for Nice but has already found the net four times in six league appearances for his new club.

Balotelli will face his former club Nice at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, and ahead of the game, the former Manchester City and Liverpool striker, expressed his desire to remain at Marseille beyond the end of the season.

"The fact of the matter is that my contract expires at the end of this season and after that, we'll discuss it," he told La Provence.

"I've told my agent that I am happy here and want to stay. My first two seasons at Nice were good, but Marseille is on another level, another type of football and atmosphere.

"As far as I am concerned, Marseille are the biggest club in France. I thank Nice and its supporters, but there's no comparison with Marseille.

"I've always felt that I would fit in here and I can't explain why. The atmosphere is a bit like Naples. I've said the only Italian club I could play for would be Napoli. It's more or less the same thing at Marseille."

Balotelli also revealed that his arrival at the club has helped galvanise the Marseille dressing room after a difficult start to the campaign.

"When I arrived at Marseille, everyone was feeling pretty down, but it's different now. I think I've helped change that too.

"I'm not saying we're all completely happy now, but the dressing room is a lot more playful nowadays."