Kevin Strootman insists he was “not forced out of Roma, it was my decision to try a new experience” at Olympique Marseille.

The midfielder’s sudden departure in the final days of the transfer window, with no replacement, was one of the reasons why fans turned on director Monchi and President Jim Pallotta.

“A club can force you to leave even if you don’t want to go, but that is not what happened with me,” assured Strootman in L’Equipe.

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Olympique Marseille Coach Rudi Garcia admits he “used to tell my Roma players to provoke Mario Balotelli, but he’s the opposite of what I thought.”

Garcia fought hard to bring SuperMario to Marseille from Nice in the January transfer window and so far the gamble is paying off, as he scored three goals in five games.

“Balotelli is wise now and pretty well-balanced,” said Garcia in his Press conference.

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Despite only joining Marseille last month, Mario Balotelli has already revealed his hopes for the future as he “would like to end my career at Brescia”.

The 28-year-old joined the Ligue 1 outfit on a six-month deal and so will face the possibility of an uncertain future this summer unless an extension is agreed upon.

Having grown up in Brescia, he has revealed that although he hasn’t considered a return to Italy in recent times, he hopes to play for the club before hanging up his boots.

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Manchester United had reportedly tried to sign Medhi Benatia from Juventus last night, but he preferred to join Al-Duhail in Qatar.

The 31-year-old Morocco international asked to leave Juve so he could get more regular playing time.

There were links to numerous clubs in Italy, Europe and beyond, including Olympique Marseille and Milan.

Multiple sources suggest he is heading to Qatar with Al-Duhail, signing a three-year contract worth €5m plus bonuses.

Juventus are due to pocket €10m from the transfer fee.

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Mario Balotelli scored on his debut for Olympique Marseille, but it was a 2-1 home defeat to Lille.

The Italy international came off the bench at the 74^th minute of this evening’s Ligue 1 match at the Stade Velodrome.

At that stage, his team was already down to 10 men following Florian Thauvin’s red card.

Nice were 2-0 up when Balotelli put in a precise header, but it was too late to turn things around.

SuperMario had made 10 Ligue 1 appearances for Nice this season without finding the net.

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Juventus would consider selling Medhi Benatia for €10m, with reports of offers from Al Duhail, Al-Ittihad and Fulham.

Multiple sources said today that Benatia’s agent met with Juve and was told he could not make a move to Arsenal or Olympique Marseille.

This evening, Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia both suggest they’d be prepared to reconsider for €10m.

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Juventus reportedly met Medhi Benatia’s agent today and told him to forget about a January departure to Marseille, Arsenal or anywhere else.

The defender has been increasingly frustrated at the lack of playing time and is expected to leave at the end of the season anyway.

According to Calciomercato.com, Benatia and his agent met with Juventus directors this afternoon.

He asked to be sold, but the club reiterated its position that with Andrea Barzagli out for several months through injury, they could not afford to let the 31-year-old go.

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Mario Balotelli has agreed a six-month contract with Olympique Marseille, it’s reported, despite Sassuolo and West Ham interest.

The negotiations have apparently reached a positive conclusion, as RMC Sport in France and Sky Sport Italia insist a medical with Marseille has been booked for Wednesday morning.

The Italy international is due to sign a six-month contract at a higher salary than the one he currently earns at Nice.

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Mario Balotelli will have to terminate his contract with Nice rather than join Olympique Marseille on loan.

According to La Provence, Nice have turned down the proposal of loaning him to Marseille for the final six months of his current deal.

Marseille would’ve preferred this to signing SuperMario as a free agent, because it would allow them to maintain the tax benefits of hiring a foreign worker.

The striker has been frozen out by Nice and Coach Patrick Vieira confirmed the Italy international “is trying to find a new club.”

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Mario Balotelli has reportedly left his rented home in Nice and is preparing to move his belongings to Marseille.

According to Nice-Matin newspaper, the Italy international’s transfer to Olympique Marseille is imminent.

That is because he has left the home he was renting in Villefrance-sur-Mer and put part of his belongings into a storage facility in Nice.

The preparations are in full swing for a move of home and club towards Marseille.

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