Balotelli Is Working Hard For The World Cup – Lucien Favre

Nice coach Lucien Favre has told UEFA.com that Mario Balotelli has made tremendous progress during his time at the club.

Favre blasted his striker for what he described as “a negative performance” as Nice were beaten in the Champions League playoff by Napoli earlier this season, but is now a lot friendly with him than when he first joined the club.

“He does certain things better than at the start. Mario needs support, needs us to speak to him. He needs players close to him because he reads the game well and knows how to make a difference,” said Favre, who had previously claimed the temperamental forward was “not difficult” to manage.

“He has really improved in his movement. He’s becoming more altruistic and effective. He still has a lot of work to do, but we know what that is. He works hard in training, he presses when he has lost the ball. It’s a little step forward, but it’s an important one.

“But it’s not going to be put in place in a year. He needs time. I was already pleasantly surprised by his progress last year, and now he’s even more involved in play. He is making a big effort to reach the level required.”

“Balotelli cost Liverpool €26 million and we got him for nothing, after long negotiations and having convinced [agent Mino] Raiola to let me meet him,” he said. “You need cunning and luck, like with [Hatem] Ben Arfa, Dante and Sneijder.

“When I met Mario, we spoke for four hours. I convinced him by telling him that he would rediscover the essence of football and his smile with us. That’s what happened, and I’m pleased.

“If you are talented, you don’t lose it and I know that he’s working hard for the World Cup. I don’t know Ventura, but I would call him to guarantee him that Mario is really a great lad who brings joy to the dressing room. I’ve never seen any [misbehaviour].

“It’s still soon to say [if he will renew his contract]. I said in June that even his mother thought that Nice was the right place for him. And Favre is an ideal coach to improve him. But to afford players like him, we need to be certain of playing in Europe.”