EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger SNUBBED Mario Balotelli twice before Liverpool deal
ARSENE WENGER twice rejected the chance to sign Mario Balotelli before the Italian striker's £16 million move to Liverpool was in place.
By Paul Hetherington & Steve Millar / Published 24th August 2014
The Arsenal boss ruled out a deal during the World Cup, following talks with Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola, when the former Manchester City striker wouldn't budge on a wage demand of £160k-a-week.
And when Balotelli, 24, dropped his pay target to £90k, Puma - Arsenal's kit suppliers - were prepared to help the Gunners with the deal.
They would then have used Balotelli as a poster boy, but once again Wenger wasn't interested.
City also had first refusal on Balotelli as a buy-back option after selling him to AC Milan for £18 million.
But once again, they had no interest in re-signing the controversial striker.
If his move to Anfield goes through, Milan will have to continue to pay City £4.5 million a year to settle the original deal, which will see the Italian club make a loss on Balotelli.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/395977/EXCLUSIVE-Arsenal-boss-Arsene-Wenger-SNUBBED-Mario-Balotelli-twice-before-Liverpool-deal