Newcastle in ‘advanced talks’ to sign ‘seduced’ ex-Liverpool, City man

Newcastle United are in talks to sign former Liverpool and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, according to reports.

The Italian scored 30 goals in 80 matches for Man City to help them to an FA Cup and Premier League triumph during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

His record of 30 goals in 54 matches for AC Milan earned him a move to Premier League side Liverpool in 2014 but it all went a wrong at Anfield, bagging just one Premier League goal.

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Since then his career has steadily declined with spells at Nice, Marseille, Brescia and Monza before ending up at Turkish side Adana Demirspor this campaign.

Balotelli’s record for Adana has been impressive this term with eight goals and three assists in 19 Turkish Super Lig appearances.

That form has seen him called up to the Italian national team by Roberto Mancini, three years after his last appearance for the Azzurri.

Balotelli will be part of a 35-man get-together in January ahead of Italy’s World Cup play-off date in March and now there are rumours he could be in for a move back to the Premier League.

Spanish publication Nacional insist that the new Newcastle United owners want to ‘take him’ to St James’ Park this month even going as far as saying the 31-year-old ‘will sign’.

It is understood the ‘surprising decision’ from Mancini to call up the former City man has ‘enabled Mino Raiola to move in the market, to get Balotelli to sign a contract in one of the big leagues’.

The Italy international has been offered to Spanish giants Barcelona but it is said that Xavi ‘did not take a second to rule out’ the signing of Balotelli.

The report adds that ‘there are other teams that would be delighted to have him in their ranks’ and Newcastle are in ‘advanced negotiations’ to seal a deal before the end of the transfer window.

It is understood that Balotelli has been ‘seduced’ by the offer to move back to the Premier League after the Magpies promised him a ‘very high salary’.