Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Mario Balotelli 'needs to be loved'

Mario Balotelli will leave AC Milan this summer if he no longer feels loved, according to his agent.

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Dumbfounded by the criticism levelled at his client after Italy's premature World Cup exit, agent Mino Raiola says if Balotelli were to face similar treatment on a domestic level, he would not hesitate in finding him a new club.

"It's fundamental for Mario that he plays in a place where he is loved," Raiola told RAI television in quotes reported by La Stampa. "At Milan, there are some people who love him and others who don't. I think that [vice president Barbara] Berlusconi is right when she says that nobody is irreplaceable."

Raiola -- who had earlier claimed his client was "sad and desperate" about the situation -- says he is not going to ask the Rossoneri to release the 23-year-old, but he has invited them to get in touch if they ever have any doubts about keeping him.

"Only Milan can sell Balotelli because he has a contract with them, but if they don't want to keep hold of him, then all they have to do is call and we can have a meeting. I'm willing to talk to them," he added.

Finding a taker for the forward should not be a problem, even if potential suitors Arsenal do not seem to be interested.

"Do you really think there's a better forward in Italy than Balotelli?" Raiola asked.

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