In October, Jurgen Klopp reportedly held talks with on-loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli about the possibility of cutting short his loan spell, but according to one Balotelli's Milan team-mates, the Italian has his heart firmly set on a move to La Liga.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca this week, Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez revealed:
“Do you know what? His [Balotelli's] dream is to play for Real Madrid".
Good luck with that! In my view, there's absolutely no chance of that happening with Rafa Benitez in charge (!)
Benitez doesn't suffer fools gladly, and given the precarious nature of his position at the Bernabeu, it'd be professional suicide to take on the added burden.
Balotelli is currently recuperating from groin surgery, and when he returns, he'll have to become an unstoppable goal-machine to attract the attention of Madrid, and given his career to day, that's unlikely to happen.
Additionally, with self-obsessed Super-Ego Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, there's probably no room for Balotelli, who likes to be the centre of attention.
Whatever happens, it is (or should be) game over for Balotelli at Liverpool. He might be worth a shot under Klopp, but I just don't see how he'll fit into German's preferred way of playing:
* Using Balotelli as a lone striker is a non-starter. As last season proved, he's not suited to the role, and intensive high-pressing is not a feature of his game. To be fair, it's not a major feature of Benteke's game, either, but the Belgian is far more suited to the lone-striker role.
* Balotelli could be utilised as a second striker/number-10 (his self-confessed preferred role), but is he a better option there than Coutiho, and Firmino? (That's a rhetorical question).
Here's hoping that Balotelli - hailed by Milan boss Sinisa Mihailovic for his 'exemplary' behaviour - has a stormer for Milan when he returns from injury. He'll be in the shop window, and if does well, it'll be far easier to sell him on this summer.
It just won't be to Real Madrid.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca this week, Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez revealed:
“Do you know what? His [Balotelli's] dream is to play for Real Madrid".
Good luck with that! In my view, there's absolutely no chance of that happening with Rafa Benitez in charge (!)
Benitez doesn't suffer fools gladly, and given the precarious nature of his position at the Bernabeu, it'd be professional suicide to take on the added burden.
Balotelli is currently recuperating from groin surgery, and when he returns, he'll have to become an unstoppable goal-machine to attract the attention of Madrid, and given his career to day, that's unlikely to happen.
Additionally, with self-obsessed Super-Ego Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, there's probably no room for Balotelli, who likes to be the centre of attention.
Whatever happens, it is (or should be) game over for Balotelli at Liverpool. He might be worth a shot under Klopp, but I just don't see how he'll fit into German's preferred way of playing:
* Using Balotelli as a lone striker is a non-starter. As last season proved, he's not suited to the role, and intensive high-pressing is not a feature of his game. To be fair, it's not a major feature of Benteke's game, either, but the Belgian is far more suited to the lone-striker role.
* Balotelli could be utilised as a second striker/number-10 (his self-confessed preferred role), but is he a better option there than Coutiho, and Firmino? (That's a rhetorical question).
Here's hoping that Balotelli - hailed by Milan boss Sinisa Mihailovic for his 'exemplary' behaviour - has a stormer for Milan when he returns from injury. He'll be in the shop window, and if does well, it'll be far easier to sell him on this summer.
It just won't be to Real Madrid.
Author: Jaimie K
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