Mario Balotelli could end up at Wolves or Port Vale after turning to Jose Mourinho for career advice
Manchester United boss has friends in high places at the unfashionable clubs and could point the Liverpool outcast down the divisions
MARIO BALOTELLI has turned to Jose Mourinho to end his Liverpool nightmare but could end up at Wolves or Port Vale!
The Portuguese struck up a bond with the former Manchester City striker during their time at Inter Milan and, according to reports in Italy, the Anfield outcast has turned to him as his career hangs in the balance with Mourinho recommending a drop out of the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp has made it abundantly clear that the 26-year-old has no future under his management on Merseyside and most top clubs across Europe are wary of taking the immature frontman into their squad.
However, a lower league club would be happy to take on the oddball, as long as they don’t have to stump his wages that Liverpool would have to cover just to get him away from their Melwood base where he could provide a distraction.
And Mourinho now has strong links with Championship club Wolves after his close friend and agent Jorge Mendes sold 20 per cent of his company Gestifute to the club’s new owners, the Chinese investment firm Fosun International.
Since the takeover, Wolves have undergone a massive summer squad overhaul with deals for exotic names like Portugal youth internationals Joao Teixeira and Helder Costa on loan from Benfica.
Atletico Madrid defender Sílvio, Icelandic Euro 2016 hero Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Congo midfielder Prince Oniangue have also joined the Molineux revolution.
And Benfica legend Luisao is on the verge of a shock move after jetting in to London for talks with the club.
So adding Balotelli to the ranks short-term could be on the cards for a player with a failing reputation all over Europe.
And, if the Special One really does have Balotelli’s ear, he could ask him to link up with his ‘brother’ Bruno Ribeiro at Port Vale.
Mourinho tried getting his close friend and fellow countryman a handful of jobs in England before League One side Port Vale took the bait in June.
And the struggling club swiftly filled their team with imported names like Rigino Cicilia, Anthony de Freitas, Kjell Knops, Quentin Pereira, Kiko, Carlos Saleiro and Paulo Tavares.
Balotelli’s massive wage demands have already ruined moves to Italian minnows Pescara and Chievo making a drop down to nouveau riche Wolves or plucky Port Vale seem less ridiculous than they sound.