Mario Balotelli’s surprise arrival at Nice, an incredible gamble

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·6 August 2026

Mario Balotelli’s surprise arrival at Nice, an incredible gamble

According to L'Équipe, in the 2016 close-season Nice surprised by bringing in Italy international Mario Balotelli, a free agent after leaving Liverpool. The place was buzzing.

Few imagined Nice would manage to lure Mario Balotelli.

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On Tuesday afternoons, Yoan Cardinale and Mathieu Bodmer would meet to play poker. The goalkeeper and the midfielder relaxed with friends, laughing and chatting.

In early August 2016, one friend blurted that Mario Balotelli could be close to joining OGC Nice. The table erupted in laughter.

Nobody knew. Nobody believed it.

Source: L'Équipe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”