OGC Nice pulled off two major moves at the end of the transfer window: Mario Balotelli and Younès Belhanda will wear the red and black colors this season. The two players were presented to the press yesterday at noon.
The press room at the Allianz Riviera was fuller than usual yesterday at noon. The main attraction being an Italian international footballer, foreign media attended the event.
Younès Belhanda kicked things off after a preamble by President Jean-Pierre Rivère. The latter expressed his satisfaction with “the quality transfer window” achieved by “a club under construction.” Nine new acquisitions, three young players integrated into the squad, and a lot of work ahead. The president of the Gym recalled the “role of a football club is to make its supporters happy.” Judging by the fan reactions on social media, it seems to have succeeded.
“Nice, a club on the rise”
Younès Belhanda was contacted “about three weeks ago” by the club, which genuinely wanted him. The former Montpellier midfielder, who became French champion in 2012, “didn’t sign because Balotelli was signing too,” as the transfer was finalized in the final hours of the window. “The Gym is a club on the rise, on the rise… I already followed their performances last season, it’s a team that plays football,” rejoiced Belhanda, also a big fan of Hatem Ben Arfa. The midfielder even offered a nice compliment regarding Nice’s gameplay: “the midfield with Seri and Koziello reminds me of Montpellier’s championship team in 2012, with Saihi and Estrada in particular.”
“We are competitors, we will try to win every game and take OGC Nice as high as possible. On my part, I will also help the team because I have some experience in France and in the Europa League.”
“I learned to play wholeheartedly abroad. On a personal level, I have no regrets about my exile to Kiev. I had my children there. Humanly, you change, you adapt, you do everything by yourself. I wanted to discover abroad, find a zone of discomfort. I found it. Now, a new stage of my career is beginning.”
“Zlatan played in Paris, I play in Nice”
Then it was Mario Balotelli’s turn to face the journalists. He immediately assured them that “the decision is solely sporting and football-based.” His priority is to play, and Super Mario felt that Nice was the best place for him. Balotelli also mentioned that Italian teams approached him at the very end of the transfer window, but he declined, with the desire to play for the Gym being too strong.
After mumbling a few words in French (“I hope this year will be very good. That’s all.”), Balotelli praised the “family spirit of the club, with a group of young players.” His opinion on Ligue 1? “It is a very tactical and very physical championship. I don’t think about the league, just my team and what the coach wants. We must focus on our game.”
The Italian international is ambitious. And like Younès Belhanda, he doesn’t plan to just make up the numbers in the Europa League: “No team plays a competition to lose. I play to win. Nice plays to win. We will approach this competition aiming to perform well.”
He also delivered a few amusing remarks, for instance, when responding to a question about Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “Zlatan played in Paris, I play in Nice,” with a sly smile, or by declining to comment on rumors of his penchant for nightlife in a region where such venues are plentiful.
A new tactical scheme for the Gym?
Lucien Favre, the Nice coach, seemed delighted with the arrival of his new signings. He notably said about Younès Belhanda: “When they mentioned his name, I agreed immediately. I remember what he achieved at Montpellier in 2012, but also his time in Ukraine and then at Schalke. I also made a few phone calls. All very positive.”
But Mario Balotelli is not overlooked: “The most important quality of a coach is honesty. I told him what we do in training, the tactical possibilities, and that I don’t differentiate between players. The best ones play. He must restart his work as he comes from difficult seasons. We don’t quite know his physical state yet. As for technique, with both feet, and efficiency in front of goal, I have no worries. He has shown enormous qualities in the past.”
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