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Italy striker Mario Balotelli has joined Marseille on a six-month contract, the French club said on Wednesday. Sources told ESPN FC on Tuesday that Balotelli would join on a short-term deal after leaving Nice. The source added that Balotelli, whose contract with Nice has been terminated, is expected to be in Rudi Garcia's squad on Friday when they face second-placed Lille in Ligue 1. "I know the Marseille fans expect a lot from their players," Balotelli said in his first news conference as a Marseille player. "For me, this is normal and correct. "I hope to make them happy from the moment I start playing. I am similar to the people from here and there shouldn't be any problems. "To be fit and have 90 minutes in my legs, I need to train with the group. I have been training by myself and now I just need to find the match rhythm. "I don't like to talk, I prefer to play and score goals." Balotelli had missed the last five matches and was given "a few days to think about his future" by Nice manager Patrick Vieira when his teammates returned to training after the festive break. Last summer, Balotelli arrived two weeks late for preseason training, prompting Vieira to ask Nice to allow the striker to leave at the time. The 28-year-old has featured in just 10 matches for Nice this campaign, registering a single assist.
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