Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere happy to take Mario Balotelli "risk"

Liverpool's Italian striker Mario Balotelli gives a thumbs up after scoring Liverpool's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, northwest England, on February
© Getty Images
Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere says that he was happy to take a "risk" in signing Mario Balotelli from Liverpool this summer.

Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has said that he was happy to take a "risk" on Mario Balotelli this summer.

The 26-year-old was looking for a new club for the majority of the transfer window having been told by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp that he was surplus to requirements at Anfield.

Balotelli finally sealed a move away on deadline day, joining Nice on a free transfer, but Rivere insisted that the striker will fit in with manager Lucien Favre's philosophy.

"I never take a player if he does not fit with the coach or the squad," he told reporters.

"The press says we are taking a huge risk with Mari. We assume that risk."

Meanwhile Balotelli, who has scored just two league goals in the last two seasons, insists that Nice are not taking a risk in signing him.

Mario Balotelli of FC Internazionale Milano looks on during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale Milano and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 13, 2015
Read Next:
Mario Balotelli: 'I am not a risk'
>

CountryGoldGSilverSBronzeBTotal
1 ChinaChina1078151239
2 Great BritainGreat Britain643944147
3 UkraineUkraine413739117
Premier League
Championship
League One
League Two
National League
Scottish Premiership
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
La Liga
Bundesliga
Serie A
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Major League Soccer
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City66001851318
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs6420103714
3Arsenal6411157813
4Liverpool6411169713
5Everton6411104613
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd6402127512
7Crystal Palace6312107310
8Chelsea6312109110
9West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom62227618
10Watford521210917
11Leicester CityLeicester6213811-37
12Hull City6213712-57
13Bournemouth621349-57
14Southampton512246-25
15Middlesbrough612369-35
16Swansea CitySwansea6114510-54
17Burnley511338-54
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham5104713-63
19Stoke CityStoke6024415-112
20Sunderland6015512-71