Berlusconi backing for Balotelli

Posted Sunday, September 20, 2015 by Foxsports.com

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi believes the signing of Mario Balotelli will improve the squad despite missing out on a number of targets during the off-season.

Controversial striker Balotelli re-joined the Rossoneri on-loan from Liverpool this transfer window after a campaign to forget at Anfield, joining Carlos Bacca, Alessio Romagnoli and Luiz Adriano as the Italian club's five off-season arrivals.

Despite missing out on highly-rated midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, who joined rivals Inter Milan, and former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Berlusconi is confident Balotelli will make a huge difference at the San Siro and believes the Italian can finally put his indiscretions behind him.

"It was a wise move not to buy Kondogbia at those figures," Berlusconi is quoted as saying by ESPN. "The starting point for negotiations was half what Inter eventually paid.

"Ibra wanted to come to us, but PSG wouldn't let him go. He really hoped that he would come to Milan. Oh well, we've got Balotelli now and he's younger. Ibra, like me, is getting old.

"Carlos Bacca has a great eye for goal, I like him a lot. Balotelli didn't get a pass wrong tonight (in the 3-2 win over Palermo) and God willing he really is a different Balo. He seemed more serious and considerate."