Mario Balotelli, Nice Officially Agree on New Contract

Mario Balotelli signed a new contract with Ligue 1 side OGC Nice on Sunday. The French club confirmed the Italian striker will extend his stay via their Twitter account:

Balotelli helped Nice finish third in the French top flight last season, and Get French Football News reported the former Manchester City forward had signed on for two more years.

The 26-year-old scored 17 times in all competitions last season, per WhoScored.com. The much-travelled and often-criticized former AC Milan and Liverpool attacker thrived in a talented squad that played a progressive brand of football on the watch of manager Lucien Favre.

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Balotelli joined Nice last summer on a one-year deal following a dire stint at Anfield. He enjoyed his debut season in Nice so much he was ready to accept a pay cut to stay on, according to club president Jean-Pierre Rivere, per Goal's Robin Bairner.

The idea of Balotelli finding his comfort level in Nice was endorsed by his former Italy team-mate Antonio Cassano.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia (h/t ESPN's Ben Gladwell), he said: "Mario's had a good career, and his luck has been having Mino Raiola as his agent because he earns his clients a lot of money. He's found his level at Nice."

Things haven't always run smoothly for Balotelli, though, as disciplinary issues blighted his stints with Inter Milan and Manchester City.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Yet, there is no denying he is a lethal striker when focused and motivated. He combines pace and power with underrated technique and a considerable aerial threat.

Keeping him is a risk for Nice, given his history of becoming unsettled at other clubs. If Favre can continue to keep Balotelli motivated, though, he has the talent to revive his career in a squad on the up in French football.