The on-loan Liverpool striker is currently out with a groin injury, but his team-mate at San Siro says the Italy international is desperate to earn a move to the Bernabeu
Mario Balotelli dreams of joining Real Madrid, according to the AC Milan striker’s team-mate, Diego Lopez.
The Italy international is currently on the sidelines having suffered a groin injury in early October after making an impressive start to life back at San Siro following his loan move from Liverpool.
Lopez – who enjoyed two spells at Santiago Bernabeu before moving to Milan in the summer of 2014 – claims Balotelli is very different in person to his public persona and still has high hopes of playing at the very highest level.
“Mario isn’t like people paint him out to be,” he told Marca Plus. “He is a nice guy and a good player and you know what? His dream is to play for Real Madrid.”
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Lopez has been forced to watch from the substitutes’ bench during the past month following the emergence of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 16-year-old has earned rave reviews since coming into Sinisa Mihajlovic’s starting XI, but Lopez is keen to win his place in the side back following some fitness issues.
“My injury problems started after the tour of China in the summer,” the former Sevilla man explained. “In the months that followed, I played through the pain because I wanted to make saves and help the team.
“It wasn’t easy to train and compete at the top level with this kind of injury. The pain affected my performance and then the coach decided to focus on Donnarumma.
“I reacted to that decision with calmness and today, I feel much better. I have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities.
“I will do everything possible to return and defend the goal for Milan. I’m very motivated and working so hard, in order to return at 100 percent fitness. I want to come back stronger than I was before.”