Today.Az » Sports » Galatasaray promises "kingdom" to Balotelli
08 July 2014 [14:35] - Today.Az


Mario Balotelli would be treated like a “king” at Galatasaray if he made the move to Turkey from Italy, according to sporting director Tomas Ujfalusi.

The Turkish club have been linked with a number of targets in Serie A, including the 23-year-old, who has been rumoured to be on his way out of Milan this summer.

The Italy international was reportedly set for a €35 million move to an English club in the coming months, but according to Rossoneri president Silvio Berlusconi, the striker’s World Cup campaign in Brazil resulted in the prospective deal collapsing.

Ujfalusi has played down Galatasaray’s interest in Balotelli but admits the forward would be loved by the fans if he were to move to Turkey this summer.

“Whilst I do not know of specific interest, he is a strong player. Here he would be king,” Ujfalusi said.

Galatasaray confirmed the appointment of former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli on a two-year deal on Monday - nearly two weeks after he stepped down as Azzurri boss following the team's World Cup failure in Brazil.

The Turkish giants revealed the news on their website on Monday, stating that the 56-year-old would replace compatriot Roberto Mancini after he left the post by mutual consent in June after just nine months in charge.

Ujfalusi admitted that Prandelli’s knowledge and experience within Italian football would be important in helping to build on the work of Mancini at Galatasaray.

“When Mancini did not want to continue, I wanted to bring in Cesare,” the former Fiorentina man was quoted as telling Gazetta dello Sport.

“In Florence he coached me and thanks to him I grew so much. At the World Cup he was unfortunate, but he had a great four years.

“The Italian schooling can also help Turkish football. Roberto has worked so hard on tactics and did improve the team. Prandelli will do the same, because he knows how to speak to the players and at Galatasaray he will find a lot of good."


/Goal.Com/



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