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Why Mario Balotelli Should Transfer to MLS

By Kelly Krigger

Liverpool's Italian striker Mario Balotelli (front) spreads his arms wide after scoring from the penalty spot for the opening goal as Liverpool's German midfielder Emre Can (back) embraces him from behind during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between Liverpool and Besiktas at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England, on February 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Liverpool's Italian striker Mario Balotelli (front) spreads his arms wide after scoring from the penalty spot for the opening goal as Liverpool's German midfielder Emre Can (back) embraces him from behind during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between Liverpool and Besiktas at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England, on February 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /
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There are rumors floating around the soccer community that Italian striker Mario Balotelli will be leaving Liverpool FC after being on a year long loan to AC Milan.  If he’s seriously about scoring goals and finding good form again, the MLS is his best bet at success.

Mario Balotelli has struggled in the last two years. And that’s putting it mildly.  In 28 appearances, the once hailed world class striker has just 4 goals with Liverpool FC.  When he was on loan to AC Milan this past year, in April he notably only had 2 goals in 20 appearances. He was also left out of Italy’s Euro Cup squad due to his poor club performance.

Mario Balotelli is losing prominence and promise as poor club form erodes him from lineups.  If he wants to be a contender for the Italian national team lineup again, he needs to start scoring goals.  He needs to come to the MLS.  It would be a great move for not only him, but for the MLS as a whole.

However, it may not be for the reasons one thinks.  Yes, this transfer would bring notoriety to the MLS and to Balotelli, but it could change how the MLS is viewed in the international soccer community.  If Balotelli transfers to an MLS team and finds good form and confidence, he could have the opportunity to go back to Europe and play successfully among the elites there to finish out his career.

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The rumor of a Balotelli transfer to the MLS isn’t entirely new.  According to this ESPN FC article, NYCFC considered bringing Mario Balotelli to the club instead of Andrea Pirlo. I think he should have come then, but he needs to move now, while he is still young in order to maximize the good the move can do.

The MLS has a bit of a reputation of being the league old European stars come to finish their careers.  But, it has a lot to offer their young players.  If he signed a designated player contract, he wouldn’t be the only 20 something year old designated player in the league.

Mario Balotelli
(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

High profile players like Giovani dos Santos (26 years old) and fellow Italian Sebastian Giovinco (28 years old) are young internationals having successful careers in the MLS.  Giovinco was even voted MVP of the MLS last year.  This league has talent to offer. This league has great fans, room for growth, and growing notoriety.

Balotelli is a fantastic player when he’s in good form.  Watching him in the 2014 Fifa World Cup and 2012 Euro Cup was an honor because even though he was lazy, he just found a way to put the ball in the back of the net.  If he can start scoring in club again, he can start making national appearances again. Which everyone is assuming he wants.

If he come to the MLS, that can happen.  He could very easily come into this league and score a bunch of goals (and make a ton of money doing it).  However, his move to the MLS shouldn’t be long-term.

Mario Balotelli’s move to the MLS can only have the maximum positive impact for both parties if he only stays for a few years.  He is young, and he can still have many years of good soccer left in him, and I believe the MLS can bring that good soccer out again.  Assuming his goal is to play well again for a European club and the Italian national team, this move to the MLS would be a temporary stop that is necessary from him to reach the form he needs to be in to play at the elite European level.  If he stays at Liverpool, he won’t play.  It’s hard to be in great form while sitting on the bench for every match.

But many, many MLS teams could use a good striker. Many, if not all, MLS teams want to be scoring more goals.  Mario Balotelli could bring those goals, more fans to the stadium, more merchandise sales; you name it. But if the MLS wants to change the way it’s viewed by Europeans, Mario Balotelli needs to transfer from the MLS as soon as he reaches great form.

If he goes from great form in the MLS to good form in Europe in any capacity, the MLS shifts from being a European graveyard to a new chance for life. The MLS could see an increase in good foreign players who come to the league in their prime.  The MLS could more quickly improve the quality of play and be more popular abroad.  The MLS could stop the ridiculous stunts of having international friendlies midseason to gain notoriety.

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This move could give the MLS a new niche, a changed role, in international soccer and it could give the world back a goal scoring Mario Balotelli.  While I recognize this argument operates on some critical assumptions, it gives me, and hopefully you as a reader, hope for the growth of soccer in the MLS and the evolving of the league to be more well respected by the rest of the world.

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