Former Liverpool FC striker Mario Balotelli is once again current Liverpool FC striker Mario Balotelli. This despite the fact that Manager Jurgen Klopp has made it clear Balo will not figure into his plans this season. Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, couldn’t find a willing buyer for the Italian bad boy and thus the Reds are stuck with him; at least for the time being.
As he began his loan move to AC Milan Balotelli bid adieu to Anfield, writing on his Facebook wall (August 27th, 2015):
“I’m grateful to Liverpool FC and Liverpool fans for the time and opportunities you gave me”
“It’s not a goodbye but rather a farewell. I’ll be supporting you guys all the way in every competition… unless you face AC Milan.”
Little did he know that he’d be returning the following summer to Melwood, the team’s practice facility. His one year loan move is up, and he still has another deal left with LFC, but there will be no place for him in Jurgen Klopp’s side, as the German Manager proverbially put it all out there.
“I have spoken to him about this. He’s not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five other players for one or two positions,” the German tactician told the Telegraph.
“We want him to become the player he was before his injury — the talent is still there, there’s no doubt about it. When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff he’s been world class.
“But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position, so it’s clear we need a solution.
“There will be a club around who would be happy to have the new Mario Balotelli. I have spoken clearly to the player about that.
“In this case it’s obvious. It’s now time to make decisions and I try to help Mario to get in the best shape he can be in and we will see what happens.”
Balotelli scored one, and I mean just one, goal in Premier League competition during his one dismal season with Liverpool, so the club are having a very tough time trying to find a willing buyer for him. Good luck with that.
I don’t think we can still call him “Super Mario” anymore, as there is nothing super about his performances the past couple of years.
Even though Klopp said that there is no place for Balo in Liverpool, the boss maintained that the club will do and are doing everything they can to help the Italian regain his form and thus, found a suitable new home.
“I can talk of Mario because that one is obvious. I heard a lot about him ever since I came here,” said Klopp.
He also vouched for his character, saying that Balotelli has been a model citizen with Liverpool. (That’s very important, given the player’s checkered past)
“But since he has been back here, he’s been a good guy and I can’t say anything different than that. It’s not that he’s come back and said ‘who’s the boss, I’m the boss no sorry it’s you.’ It’s not been that at all. Everything’s been good, it’s all okay. And now he’s here, we will do everything we can to get him fit.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
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