“Apart from the fans, who were fantastic, and some players who I got on really well with, I didn’t like the club,” Balotelli told Canal Plus.
The 26-year-old was speaking before scoring twice on his Nice debut in the 3-2 Ligue 1 win over Marseille on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers, who signed Balotelli, was sacked as Liverpool manager in October 2015, with Jurgen Klopp taking over.
“I had two coaches, with Rodgers and Klopp for a short time, but neither their methods nor their personality left me with a good impression,” he said.
“I never really felt right there.”
‘I can still win the Ballon d’Or’
In an interview with former France, Leeds and Roma midfielder Olivier Dacourt, Balotelli was asked if he still thought about winning the Ballon d’Or.
“Of course. It’s not too late,” he said. “I think I could have already won it by now, but by working hard in training I could still win it in the next two or three years.”
In Sunday’s home game, Balotelli was goaded by Marseille’s Bafetimbi Gomis as he prepared to take a penalty, but kept his cool to score the opener.
Florian Thauvin, on loan from Newcastle, equalised before ex-Swansea striker Gomis put Marseille in front from the spot.
Balotelli headed home before Wylan Cyprien’s long-range winner.
Victory lifted Nice into second in the table, behind leaders Monaco on goal difference, with champions Paris St-Germain in seventh.
Eric Bailly is the convincing winner of Manchester United’s first Player of the Month award for the new season.
The Ivory Coast international has made an instant impact at Old Trafford and earned the Man-of-the-Match accolade in three of the Reds’ four games last month, only missing out when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was star man in the 2-0 win over Southampton.
Thousands of supporters cast their votes on Twitter and ManUtd.com with the 22-year-old beating off competition from fellow summer signing Ibrahimovic (37 per cent) and his defensive partner Daley Blind (8 per cent) to land the trophy with 55 per cent of the overall tally.
Bailly told MUTV recently: “The Man-of-the-Match awards are something I hadn’t thought about but I got them through the hard work I have put in. I hope to see more of that in the weeks ahead of us.”
Chelsea defender David Luiz has insisted that he is ready to play in any role that Blues boss Antonio Conte has in mind for him.
The Brazilian returned to Chelsea in a shock deadline day move from Paris Saint Germain.
Conte has previously favoured a back three with Juventus and Italy and Luiz’s capture has sparked rumours that he may be ready to implement the system again, a scenario the ex Vitoria and Benfica centre half insists he would be comfortable with.
“I started playing in a back three with Vitória in Brazil, but no matter where I play I want to help and when I’m on the team I will try to help”.
“Conte is a wonderful coach, he understands tactics and I know that he chooses for each match the best solution”.
“So if he needs to play with three, four or two (in the defence), it does not matter, I’m here if you want me to play. In different positions, I’m available,” Luiz, who has also played in defensive midfield in his previous spell at Chelsea, told ESPN Brasil.
“It’s time to win and I hope for this for this year. I’m working hard for it and that’s our goal this season. We have Champions League qualification to fight for, then surely we will try to win the Premier League and the two cups.”
Stoke City have signed striker Wilfried Bony on a season-long loan deal from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Ivorian Bony, 27, has made 15 league starts since joining City for £28m from Swansea in January 2015, but had not featured under new boss Pep Guardiola.
The Potters have also signed Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant, 33, on loan until January.
Meanwhile, Porto and Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi, 24, is in talks with the club over a move.
“Bringing Wilfried in was a no-brainer for us,” said Potters manager Mark Hughes. “He has power, speed and very good physical attributes.”
Stoke targeted Ivory Coast international Bony as there had been no development in their attempt to sign West Brom forward Saido Berahino.
Last week, West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic said he was interested in signing Bony, who has three years left to run on his contract at Etihad Stadium.
Jose Mourinho made a winning Premier League start as Manchester United manager with a comprehensive opening victory at Bournemouth.
Juan Mata, who was substituted after coming on in last week’s Community Shield, opened the scoring with a tap-in after Simon Francis’ error.
Wayne Rooney headed the second before Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his United league debut with a goal from 25 yards.
Adam Smith scored a consolation goal for the Cherries.
United were without world-record £89m signing Paul Pogba through suspension, while midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan started on the bench, with Mata preferred.
Can Mourinho bring back the fear factor?
As starts go, this was a highly satisfactory day for United – the Mourinho era began with a solid victory at a ground where they came unstuck under Louis van Gaal last season.
United started slowly and did not register a shot on target until a Rooney effort produced a comfortable save from Boruc in the 27th minute.
Yet it was job done once the visitors opened the scoring with a messy goal and added two more in the space of five second-half minutes to put them in a commanding position.
Mata looked unhappy when he was replaced 30 minutes after coming on at Wembley against Leicester last Sunday but the Spaniard was all smiles as he got Mourinho’s reign up and running.
Boruc made a fine block from Mata after Francis’ under-hit back-pass but the rebound bounced off Francis into the former Chelsea player’s path and he tapped home.
United’s second goal was also down to some good fortune – Rooney was well positioned to head home after Anthony Martial’s mis-hit shot fell perfectly for his captain.
Ibrahimovic was denied by a one-handed Boruc save but the Swede made it 3-0 with a drilled low finish from outside the area to leave Mourinho smiling.
Ibrahimovic conjures another debut goal
Ibrahimovic continued his remarkable record of marking debuts with a goal.
The 34-year-old Swede has now scored on his first league starts in England, Italy, Spain and France, and in the Champions League.
Any concerns the frenetic pace in English football’s top-flight might not suit Ibrahimovic were dispelled with his well-executed finish to follow a goal at Wembley last week.
Mourinho’s oldest signing of the summer could turn out to be his shrewdest.
The 20-year-old helped Germany reach the semi-finals at Euro 2016, having made his international debut in November.
He told Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel earlier this summer that he wanted to leave the club, according to German media.
Sane, a product of the youth system at Schalke, made his senior debut for them in April 2014.
He scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season as Schalke finished fifth, missing out on Champions League qualification for the second year in a row.
Manchester United is pleased to announce the Premier League squad numbers for the much-anticipated 2016/17 season, including those to be worn by the club’s three new signings.
Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly will wear the previously vacant number three jersey and Armenian forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan, signed from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month, has taken on number 22.
Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joined a list of iconic Reds strikers to wear the famous number nine shirt at Old Trafford, with its former incumbent Anthony Martial moving to number 11 and Adnan Januzaj switching to number 15 for the new campaign.
United’s FA Cup final hero Jesse Lingard has moved from number 35 to 14 and his fellow Academy graduate Marcus Rashford has gone from 39 to 19. Dutch prospect Tim Fosu-Mensah will now wear number 24 going forward and young goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has adopted number 32.
“When I had my first game on Saturday, I felt so emotional,” said Shaw. “It’s the best feeling ever.
“There was a fear of how long it was going to take or whether I would play again. Now I am looking forward to pre-season and getting fully fit.”
Shaw, who broke his leg against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, played the first 45 minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Wigan.
An England international, he became Britain’s most expensive teenage footballer when, at the age of 19, he joined United from Premier League rivals Southampton for around £30m in June 2014.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has set a social media record at Manchester United, after confirmation of his arrival at Old Trafford became the club’s most popular Instagram post of all time.
Our photo of the Swede holding aloft his Reds shirt (in the gallery above) has earned over half a million ‘likes’ since it was posted on 1 July, which was the day he signed his contract at the Aon Training Complex.
We can also report that four entries involving Ibra are now among our six most popular Instagram posts. Furthermore, nine of a much-changed top 10 all include new recruits in the form of Zlatan, manager Jose Mourinho and the club’s latest signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Topping the Instagram chart is not the first benchmark Zlatan has set during his short time with the Reds, after he broke the club’s power record during his medical earlier this month.
Hit the main image above to count down United’s top 10 Instagram posts of all-time.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is considering leaving Zlatan Ibrahimovic behind when they go on their two-game pre-season trip to China on Tuesday.
United’s England contingent Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford will be on the tour.
However, Mourinho has said the trio will not play against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on 22 July and Manchester City in Beijing on 25 July.
And new signing Ibrahimovic, 34, may not be involved at all.
If he does not go to Asia, it is not known precisely when Ibrahimovic will make his first United appearance.
The striker, who arrived at United on a free transfer after his contract with Paris St-Germain expired, last played in Sweden’s final match at Euro 2016, a 1-0 defeat by Belgium on 22 June.
When it was confirmed on Monday a United XI would play Salford City at Moor Lane on 26 July, the National League North club’s co-owner Gary Neville said on Twitter: “Zlatan first game!!”
United’s first team play Galatasaray in Gothenburg in Ibrahimovic’s native country on 30 July.
They play Everton in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial at Old Trafford on 3 August and Premier League champions Leicester City in the Community Shield on 7 August.
Jose Mourinho says he will do all he can to make the Manchester United fans happy, but the Reds boss insists the supporters have a big part to play in his plans for success.
In an exclusive interview for adidas Front Row, Mourinho spoke of his pride at being at the Old Trafford helm and, while he realises fans’ expectations are high, he discussed how the backing from the stands will be vital.
“I understand that they expect a lot from me but I also expect a lot from them,” he declared. “There is no chance we will be happy if we are not together and I think the passion [they have] for this club is really amazing.
“It’s a new chapter in the club’s life. Always when you change a manager, I feel it is a sad moment but it is a new chapter now. We have brought a few new faces in, we will keep some others but, in the end, it doesn’t matter who the manager is, it doesn’t who the new players are or who is staying or leaving, it’s Man United and Man United is much more than any one of us.
“The passion the fans have is for the club and I feel that I am a club man. When I arrived, I wore the [United] shirt immediately and this is the kind of club and the kind of shirt that I am very proud to represent. I am going to do my best to be happy and to make the people happy.”
In terms of targets for his first year, Mourinho is clear in his mission.
“I’m not humble when I talk about targets, I’m quite aggressive on that. I want everything and everything is to win matches, play well, score goals, don’t concede goals… everything. I want everything,” he insists. “I know that we are speaking about a hypothetical situation which is very difficult to reach but I want everything.”
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is ready to spend £34million on bolstering his defensive options by signing Napoli centre-half Kalidou Koulibaly.
The 25-year-old Senegalese international has been on the radar of the Stamford Bridge outfit for a while.
The Blues reportedly had a £19million bid turned down by the Serie A giants last month.
They also tried to get a £30million deal done earlier this month.
But now it appears they look finally set to get him.
And according to Sportitalia, Conte is now prepared to splash the cash and get his man
Chelsea’s bid includes a £31.5 million initial payment to Napoli with £2.5 million in bonuses.
So high does Conte rate Koulibaly, it is said the former Azzurri boss wants to build his team around him.
Koulibaly impressed in the Italian top flight last season as Napoli conceded just 32 goals in 38 matches as they finished behind Juventus in the title race.
Jose Mourinho says he is ready for the task of rebuilding Manchester United, insisting: “I am where I want to be.”
The new United manager added: “I think it is a job everyone wants and not many have a chance to have and I have it.”
Former Chelsea boss Mourinho succeeds Dutchman Louis van Gaal, who was sacked after United’s FA Cup success in May.
The Portuguese said he was “frustrated” United are not in the Champions League next season but insisted he was at Old Trafford to win trophies.
Mourinho also said that:
He wants to make four major signings;
He is not to blame for the departure of Ryan Giggs;
He will not play Wayne Rooney in midfield;
He has a track record of promoting young players.
United, the 20-time English champions, finished fifth in the Premier League last season, 15 points adrift of shock champions Leicester City.
United won the FA Cup, but the campaign was generally viewed as another disappointment, prompting the sacking of Van Gaal in May.
“It would be quite pragmatic to say let’s work and let’s try to be back to the Champions League, be back to the top four,” said Mourinho.
“I am not good on that and I didn’t want to be good on that. I am more aggressive. We want to win.
“For many years, success was just routine and in this moment the last three years are to forget. I want the players to forget. I don’t want the players to think we have to do better and finish fourth. Finishing fourth is not the aim.
“I want everything. I want to win matches, I want to play well, I don’t want to concede goals. I want the fans to be behind us.
“Of course, we’re not going to get everything, but we want to.”
Asked if he had a point to prove after his second stint at Chelsea ended in the sack, Mourinho responded: “There are some managers who haven’t won titles for 10 years. Some of them never. The last time I won was a year ago.”
Mourinho, who led the Blues to the Premier League title in 2015, added: “If I have something to prove, imagine the others. That’s my feeling.
“I feel that I have to prove not to the others but to myself. I would never be able to work without success. That is my nature.”
Jose Mourinho left Chelsea – for the second time – on 17 December 2015
On new players
Mourinho said he had targeted four signings and had secured three of them.
“I am very clear in my approach and model to play and I need specialists in that,” said the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss. “I like one or two multi-functional because you need them when you are in a bit of trouble.”
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly are already at the club, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan looks like being the third recruit after United’s bid for the midfielder was accepted by Borussia Dortmund.
France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 23, has also been heavily linked with a return to the club he left in 2011.
“We decided four targets,” said Mourinho, 53. “Until we have the fourth, we are still working hard. The third player will be official soon.”
Mourinho has signed a three-year contract
On promoting youth
Mourinho has been accused of putting his faith in proven, older talent at his previous clubs rather than investing in youth.
But the former Porto boss was quick to reject such allegations when he faced the media on Tuesday.
“You know how many young players I promoted to the first team from academies?” he asked. “Forty nine. Some of them are big names, they are Champions League winners in the Euros, playing for national teams.
“One lie repeated many times sometimes looks true, but it will never be true.”
On Ryan Giggs
Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for the Red Devils, ended his 29-year association with the club last week.
The Welshman was assistant to Van Gaal and had been tipped by some to succeed the Dutchman.
“It is not my responsibility Ryan is not in the club,” said Mourinho. “The job Ryan wanted is the job the club decided to give me. If, one day, he wants to be back to the club while I am here, I would never stop him.
On Wayne Rooney
Rooney has played the bulk of his career in attack and is only four goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record of 249.
But he spent the end of last season in midfield, and played in the same position for England at Euro 2016.
“Maybe he is not a striker any more, maybe he is not a number nine any more, but with me he will never be a number six or somebody who plays 50 metres away from the goal,” said Mourinho.
“Yes, his pass is amazing, but my pass is also amazing without pressure. To put the ball in the net is the most difficult thing you have to find.”
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) winger Lucas Moura has denied rumours gaining grounds that he is set to join English Premier League club Liverpool.
Speculation around his future continues to grow but the Brazil international insists he is not moving to England as its being rumoured.
Moura has struggled to hold down a regular place in the PSG side since moving to the French capital three and a half years ago.
It has been thought that PSG would be open to a sale of the Brazilian who is eager to have more playing time.
The player has previously been linked with Manchester United, but speaking with at a press conference, Lucas insists that he has had no contact from Liverpool, “I’m not aware of anything, I just know what’s coming out on the internet and the press. Klopp had no contact with me, it’s just speculation.”
Lucas also spoke about his international aspirations, with Dunga now replaced by Tite as Seleção coach, “I want to have a good pre-season to be well and wait for Tite’s next selection.
I’m sure he’ll be watching all of us playing in Europe. Now I have to work, play well in order to be remembered and grab the opportunity.
“Of course I am hoping to return to the national team and to establish myself there. I think the Seleção is always a goal for all players, and I will do everything to come back. But my first focus is to establish myself at PSG as a starter and then I’m sure the opportunity will appear.”
New Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he moved to the Premier League to prove himself in England.
Around 7,000 fans turned up at Etihad Stadium to hear the 45-year-old speak for the first time as City manager
“That is why I am here. I proved myself in Barcelona and after I proved myself in Germany I wanted to prove myself in England,” he said.
“I cannot do that alone. I need the players, the staff. We need our fans. Without that, it is impossible.”
The Spaniard joins City after three years at Bayern Munich where he won a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles but failed to reach a Champions League final.
However, the former Spain international midfielder did win that tournament twice during his four years as Barcelona boss.
He believes that a strong team spirit will be integral to City’s success.
“I like the players who don’t just think for themselves but think about Manchester City,” said Guardiola.
“We are all the people who are working here. The reason we are here is thinking ‘what can we do to make this club a better club’.
“I don’t want the guys to think about what the club can do for them. We are here to make Manchester City a better club in the next three, four, five years.”
He added: “One of the reasons I decided to come to Manchester City is I know from (sporting director) Txiki Begiristain how good they are working with the young players – 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, they grow and grow and imagine they can join us in the first team.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will undergo a medical with Manchester United next week ahead of a move to Old Trafford, according to Sky sources.
Ibrahimovic, who retired from international football following Sweden’s group stage exit at Euro 2016, will sign a one-year contract at United following the completion of his medical.
Personal terms on a one-year contract were agreed prior to Euro 2016 after negotiations between Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola and United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
The talks took longer than expected and a move could therefore not be completed before Euro 2016 began.
Sky Sports News HQ understand United do not expect any issues with the medical and the 34-year-old is said to be in excellent physical condition.
Ibrahimovic, all being well, will link up with Jose Mourinho for the second time in his career, having worked with the Portuguese during their time together at Inter Milan.
Sky sources also understand United are close to completing the signing of Armenia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund after talks reached an advanced stage on Sunday.
Mourinho is attempting to shape his squad ahead of his first season at United and has already completed the signing of Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal.
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a fee of £11m for Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama, BBC Radio Solent understands.
It is thought the 24-year-old Kenyan, who joined Saints for £12.5m from Celtic in July 2013, is undergoing a medical with the White Hart Lane club.
The move would reunite Wanyama with his former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Wanyama asked to leave last summer after interest from Spurs but stayed at St Mary’s and helped Southampton to a sixth-placed finish.
He joined Southampton in July 2013 and made 85 league appearances, scoring four times.
If the deal goes through he will become Tottenham’s first summer signing as they prepare for their return to the Champions League.
Wanyama signed for Celtic from Belgian club Germinal Beerschot for an undisclosed fee in July 2011 having moved to Europe from Kenya to join Helsingborg of Sweden in 2007.
According to Football Italia, Alvaro Morata is in conversation with the brass at Stamford Bridge over a big money transfer, but there are disagreements over salary.
Reports state that Chelsea are offering €60 million for Morata’s services, but the hold up is over the yearly wage. Chelsea appear to be willing to give €6 million a year while the entourage around Morata are reportedly asking for €7.5 million a year.
Morata is a young star and is coming off a great season with Juventus scoring 12 goals and 9 assists for the club in all competitions. Morata is also a key figure on the Spanish National team, scoring 5 goals in 11 appearances including 2 goals in the Euro’s so far.
I think this deal is likely. Juventus won’t offer the kind of money Chelsea will to keep the star striker and Chelsea are rumored to be shopping Diego Costa around. If Costa goes, look for the Blues to make this move at all costs.
Serie A side Udinese have confirmed that they have signed forward Stipe Perica permanently from Chelsea.
Perica, 20, joined Chelsea in 2013 but he failed to make a single appearance for his parent club during his spell there.
Instead he was sent out on loan, first to NAC Breda and then to Udinese in February 2015, where he spent the following season and a half in Italy.
It would represent a small profit on the €2.5 million Chelsea originally paid for Perica and he will now be able to focus his efforts on developing at Udinese.
It is currently unclear how long the contract Perica has signed is or how much the fee is but when he first signed on loan Italian jounalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported there was a buy-out clause in the deal of €4 million.
West Ham have pulled off a brilliant coup by signing free agent Sofiane Feghouli for three years
Winger Sofiane Feghouli has joined West Ham United on a free transfer from Spanish side Valencia on a three-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old made over 200 appearances and scored 42 goals in his six seasons at Valencia since signing from French side Grenoble in 2010.
Feghouli, who has been capped 40 times by Algeria, will join the London club on July 1.
“I am very happy to sign for the Hammers and for (coach) Slaven Bilic,” Feghouli said on the club’s website (whufc.com).
“The history of the Club is important for me in my decision. Playing in the Premier League is very important for players in their careers and I am happy to play for the Hammers.”
