Brescia set to terminate former Man City striker's deal

Mario Balotelli's three-year deal at Brescia is set to be terminated after the player did not show up for the training sessions.

Balotelli, a former Manchester City and Liverpool striker, has been involved in a bust-up with Brescia president Massimo Cellino as the Italian player has been deserting the Serie A team's return to training after the restrictions in Italy due to the global pandemic were eased.

Brescia offered Balotelli a consensual termination of his contract at the club, but the 29-year-old rejected the proposal and his lawyer Mattia Grassani has now received a letter confirming that the player's employment at the club is set to be terminated.

In May, the Italian had to train on an individual program as he failed a series of physical tests.

Since then the situation has been escalating day after day and Balotelli did not show up to the team's training sessions in the last few days and he even sent the club a medical certificate proving he is suffering from gastroenteritis.

The matter is believed to be resolved by an independent arbitration panel as the player is reported to submit a claim of wrongful termination to his contract.

Balotelli joined Brescia in last summer after his deal at Ligue 1 side Marseille ran out.

Since joining the Serie A team he scored only 5 goals in all his 19 appearances for the club.

In an interview last month Cellino, who is the former Leeds owner, said that signing Balotelli last summer has been "a mistake".

The Serie A is due to resume on June 20 after three-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Brescia, who are on the bottom of the table, are set to travel to Fiorentina on June 22 for their first game.