Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/561386
21 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST 2015 FOOTBALL Balotelli set for AC Milan return Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has completed his medical at AC Milan and declared his delight at returning to the Rossoneri ahead of his loan switch BOTH clubs have yet to an- nounce the deal, which will see the Italy international represent the San Siro side for the 2015-16 campaign. A statement from Milan read: "Mario Balotelli has completed his medical. "He is expected to arrive to Casa Milan at 13:30." AC Milan have thrown Balotelli a lifeline, with the 25-year-old having scored just four goals in his 29 appearances for the Reds since his £16million transfer from the Rossoneri last summer. Balotelli, left out of Liverpool's pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia, is aware of how important this move is to revive his career. "I'm happy to have returned," Balotelli said on Milan's web- site. "I have little to say, just that I'm looking forward to train and prove my worth. "I'm physically well - I just have to train with the squad. "I have a lot of motivation but I just have to work and not speak. "Did I think I would return to Milan? Yes, I always had Milan in my heart and I always had hope that I would return one day. "Will I end my career here? I just have to start to work and have a good year, just have to work and that's that." The deal is expected to see Ba- lotelli return to Liverpool next summer. He is under contract at Anfield until June 2018. Mario Balotelli John Stones hands in transfer request Everton defender John Stones has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Chelsea AFTER three failed bids - the last in excess of £30million - from the Stamford Bridge club, Press As- sociation Sport understands the England international has now taken matters into his own hands and formally expressed his desire to leave. Everton have been resolute in their determination to hang on to the highly-rated 21-year-old and manager Roberto Martinez has insisted throughout the saga the centre-back is not for sale. Martinez, who is becoming increasingly weary of having to field questions about Stones, re- fused to even discuss what the club's response would be should the player hand in a transfer re- quest when he was asked about it on Tuesday. "There is nothing to comment on that," he said. "Once more, it is always the same question and always the same answer. "The only thing that matters now is the game we have in front of us. There is nothing to an- nounce or discuss. "I know it is your job to keep asking the same question and unfortunately it is my job in this case to always give you the same answer." Having so far steadfastly, ro- bustly rebuffed Chelsea's ap- proaches for Stones, who joined from Barnsley for £3million in January 2013, Everton now find themselves in something of a predicament. Sanctioning a departure now would undermine their previous apparent show of strength in in- sisting the player, who has four years remaining on his contract, is not for sale. It would also leave them with just one senior centre-back - cap- tain Phil Jagielka - having al- lowed Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz to depart in the summer, and with just a week left of the transfer window there is hardly any time to find a replacement of equal standing. Martinez faced a similar situa- tion in his first summer in charge when former Everton boss David Moyes made a sustained attempt to take Leighton Baines to Man- chester United with him. Baines, having spoken to Mar- tinez and chairman Bill Ken- wright, did not agitate to leave and has subsequently admitted he "sat on the fence and saw how the thing played out". Everton resisted United's finan- cial might and six months later the left-back signed a new con- tract. Stones' situation is different in that he has now actively asked to leave, but if Everton refuse to budge then Martinez will be left having to manage an unhappy player, one of his first-choice centre-backs and a cornerstone of the defence, until at least January when the window opens again. John Stones Arsenal's Ramsey calls for video technology after goal disallowed ARSENAL midfielder Aaron Ramsey has called for video technology to help with crucial decisions after his goal against Liverpool during Monday's 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium was ruled out for offside. Ramsey ran through onto San- ti Cazorla's pass in the first half and slotted home past Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, only to realise that assistant ref- eree Simon Bennett had raised his flag. "I thought I held my run a bit, I thought I was onside but I obvi- ously took a glance over to make sure and saw the flag was up," the 24-year-old told the British media. "The replays suggest I was on- side -- it should have stood -- but obviously the linesman thought it was offside," he added. Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey looks dejected as he holds onto the goal net Juventus make Cuadrado signing official THE Colombian returns to Se- rie A after a disappointing stint with Chelsea that saw him make only four starts for the reigning Premier League champions. Juventus have welcomed Juan Cuadrado back to Serie A, sign- ing the Colombian on a season- long loan deal from Chelsea. The 27-year-old completed his medical with the Turin club on Tuesday morning, before putting pen to paper on a con- tract with his new side. "Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Juan Cuad- rado has agreed terms on a sea- son-long loan deal from English Premier League side Chelsea," a statement on the Bianconeri's official website read. "The Colombian winger, 27, will now link up with his new teammates in Vinovo ahead of this afternoon's training ses- sion." Cuadrado struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, making only four starts from 12 appearances for the Blues after a €33 million move from Fiorentina in January 2015. However, the recent signing of Pedro from Barcelona all but sealed the Colombian's de- parture from the London club, with the Bianconeri pleased to add him to coach Massimiliano Allegri's squad.