Doubts have been raised over the legitimacy of Arsenal’s interest in Italian striker Mario Balotelli, after his club maintained that they had not entered any negotiations for their star man.

Balotelli, who moved to AC Milan from Manchester City in 2013, is reportedly looking for a move away from his boyhood dream club, despite his 26 goals in one year at the San Siro.

Fuelling Speculation

Rumours emerged yesterday that Arsenal had been given the go-ahead over a deal worth £15.8 million to add Balotelli to their squad for next season.

The player and his girlfriend also fueled gossip online, over an Instagram photo of the pair of them outside an Arsenal poster on a Puma shop front in New York.

With the player’s deep affiliation with the brand, it is unlikely that he was expecting anyone to read too much into it, unless he is forcing his hand against the Milan hierarchy.

Galliani Says No

Despite the BBC gossip also picking up on the speculation, the AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has kept supporters quiet.

Galliani rejected any claims that there was a deal in place for the enigmatic forward. Speaking ahead of the friendly game against Italian side Monza, he claimed that,

“I can deny reports of an Arsenal offer for Balotelli, we haven’t received anything.”

The Daily Mail are adamant that Balotelli will go to the US for AC Milan’s pre-season tour and Arsenal officials will have to find time during their own schedule against New York next week, if they are serious in obtaining another marquee signing.

Up On Their Feet

Balotelli would be the type of signing that gets supporters up on their feet and paying for their tickets in order to see him shine in the Premier League once more.

He looks like he wants to leave and it is likely that he would be going on the cheap. Arsène Wenger could do a lot worse than enter negotiations with the player, if behind closed doors he hasn’t already done so.

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