27 May 2015

Confirmed: 'Maverick' €70m attacker 'will' play for Liverpool next season. 'Talks' held already

In the last few months of the season, Mario Balotelli's situation at Anfield descended into utter farce, with the striker repeatedly missing games due to alleged 'illness', and Liverpool failing to get any return on the Italian's £16m transfer fee. You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone of sound mind who thinks it's a good idea to keep him at Anfield, but according to his agent, Balotelli will definitely be a Liverpool player next season.

Speaking to Sky Sports today, Balo's agent, Mino Raiola, confirmed:

"We have talks with Liverpool and he will stay. I spoke many times with the club and they were happy with his input as a professional"

It's not really a surprise that Balotelli is staying. Raiola stated as much in January, when he claimed that his client will stay unless some club puts in an insane transfer offer. He told reporters:

"The plan is to continue at Anfield. I saw him Monday and told him: 'You have a four-year contract and I won't bring you away. Either you leave Liverpool for €60-€70m, or you'll die there".

Fans should probably get used to the fact that Balotelli - charitably described as a 'maverick' by Hull boss Steve Bruce - will be warming the bench next season.

Unless, of course, Liverpool can con some club into paying '€60-€70m' for Balotelli, but there's more chance of the Reds completing a double-swoop for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo than that happening.

To be fair, the Italian is the least of Liverpool's problems right now. The media are ridiculously obsessed with his every move, but Balotelli has (for the most part) behaved well at Anfield, and there's always a possibility that he'll come good.

In any event, Rodgers must take the lion's share of blame for Balotelli's failure to make a consistent impact; he's barely given the striker a chance to build any momentum this season, and - bar one game at Spurs - Rodgers has persistently (and negligently) played the Italian out of position as a lone striker.

There's no denying Balotelli's talent. Granted, his goals/assists return this season is absolutely pitiful, but if he finally comes good, it'll be a massive boost for Liverpool.



One thing's for sure, I'd rather see Lambert and Borini leave first, as those two are never going to cut it at Anfield. Balotelli, on the other hand, has the experience and international pedigree to turn things around at Liverpool, and whatever happens, he's a decent player to have in the squad...if utilised correctly.

If, however, Rodgers persists next season with his infernal 'square pegs in round holes' policy, then all bets are off.

survey services


Author: Jaimie K


75 comments:

  1. "There's no denying Balotelli's talent."


    Oh yes there is!

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  2. The much maligned Balotelli has probably been misused and abused

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  3. The stats show otherwise:

    * 10 major trophies (including 4 league titles and 1 champions league)


    * Prior to LFC: 124 goals/assists in 220 games for Inter, Milan, and Man city (Goal/assist every 1.7 games)


    * 13 goals in 33 games for Italy.


    Irrespective of personal opinion on Balotelli, the facts prove that he is talented and capable of scoring/creating goals at the highest level, so it's patently incorrect to suggest that he doesn't have talent.

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  4. If BR is staying, then I guess the best thing for him and us would be to sell him

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  5. Theycallmemrburt7:59 pm, May 27, 2015

    I watched the Neville Rooney interview yesterday in which Rooney explained that LVG wanted him to stay high up the pitch and occupy the center halves. He also told Rooney that on average his striker at Bayern averaged 10 touches per game but on average was given 2 goalscoring opportunities. In many ways Rodgers wants his strikers to do exactly the same thing and anyone who wants the ball a little more he calls a false 9 i.e Suarez and Sterling. As a result Rooney's game has suffered in my opinion because he likes to feel as though the play is going through him not just barely reaching him as does Balotelli. If Balo stays I'll be rooting for him. If Rodgers stays I hope he uses Balo correctly and diminishes his dogmatic approach to football. One up front in the premiership can effectively be survival football if the money and personnel are not spot on.

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  6. He hasn't been in the squad for weeks due to "illness", but we're keeping him...nonsense, but judging the sense this club's decisions have made in the past ten years, yeah okay..whatever

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  7. "happy with his input as a professional"...Professional what? professional trainer? tightrope walker? Horse whisperer?...He did sweet f*ck all on the pitch...

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  8. I commented previously that I had an inkling that Balotelli would be staying next season. His first season at LFC was forgettable but he has previously played and achieved things at the highest level. He has the potential to come good and I hope for LFCs sake that he does. I think Balo is definitely a luxury player and he plays as if he is one but I also think hes the type that performs round better players similar to Sterling.

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  9. Jaimie would you be excited if LFC sign Ancelloti as manager,marca reportedly has linked him to LFC

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  10. Is Marca Spanish for Metro?

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  11. ...Okay, so Balotelli is definitely staying...and so is Sturridge...., and we've already bought origi....that's three.


    ..maths, maths, maths....now let me think...that's left borini, lambert to go...


    ..and we're linked with a toss up between Ings and Austin...8-/..is one of them our marquee signing then...?

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  12. Jock, I got flippin' excited, not that I'm sayin' Brendan should go, but Ancelotti is a top, top, top coach...anyhow got shocked this morning and then saw the source..


    ...then i decided to research said source on t'internet...hmmph..that's all I can say...now off to add loads of salt to my dinner...

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  13. I never get excited by media stories anymore. It's 90% bollocks

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  14. This week cant get any worse shameful against stoke,toure staying and now ballotelli staying .Is liverpool a rest home for players that want easy money.
    I.e Enrique.
    Linked with some great players and end up with one trick ponies,
    Rogers has to go .

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  15. ...is that maligned or 'misaligned' as in used 5 feet too far this way or two feet too far forward; or used as a 'square peg in a round hole'... or asked to work a little when he really just wants to lie down on a sun-lounger on the ten yard line and be fed the ball on a purple cushion....


    ...do you mean 'misaligned' then with his wonderful ethos - the one that got us him for £16mill rather than the £50 mill he's actually worth.....

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  16. These last few days have been hugely depressing....it just gets worse by the day..we are fu*ked already.

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  17. Is it just me when I looked at Pascoe and marsh on certain games they look like they haven't a clue what's going on
    Sunday league material.

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  18. Marquee signings just announced
    Joey Barton,Richard Dunne ,Rio Ferdinand and wait for it up front
    Bobby (when the ball hits your head and you sit in row z) Zamora.
    That's the league sorted.?

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  19. Apparently our shadow 'Spurs' have offered 12m for Ings - but could be more journo bile

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  20. Spurs have offered 12m for Ings apparently

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  21. Stan Dinaround9:25 pm, May 27, 2015

    I've signed in just to say, "outstanding"

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  22. Stan Dinaround9:26 pm, May 27, 2015

    Marca and The Daily Star.... nuff said.

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  23. Stan Dinaround9:38 pm, May 27, 2015

    Origi is more winger than striker....

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  24. Stan Dinaround9:39 pm, May 27, 2015

    But Ings has told them he is signing for LFC...... ?

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  25. Well we now have a new COOK at Anfield then

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  26. Oh well '20m' or whatever for Austin- oh god my ulcer

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  27. Stan - Just like to say that was an outstanding comment mate

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  28. But what if Brendan goes and all those players stay, do the automatically level up the minute he leaves.

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  29. Oh no there isn't!

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  30. Glad he's staying, never had a fair crack this season, lot more to offer I think.
    If BR plays to his strengths he will easily get 35+ goals, obvious now he's best utilised as a lone striker.

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  31. For f# ck sake. Please someone wake me up.this has to be a bad dream!!!

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  32. Thank You....

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  33. I thought Balo was probably our best player this season, bit unlucky to get sick towards the end otherwise we were top four guaranteed. Can't fault his work rate.

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  34. Phew.i actually thought you were serious. Your sarcasm needs a little work.not faulting it but mabye just a smiley face or two for clarity!! ;)

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  35. It makes sense. We'll drop a lot on him so might as well try him with another striker around him. A real one this time. Preferably with another manager. That may help too.

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  36. You are forgetting our Europa Cup winner this evening, yes Aspas picked up a Winners medal, CL for him next year.
    Hard to believe.

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  37. ..so you reckon we're a striker light if we going for four..?


    ..and if so then ok ..maybe a chance of a 'marquee' striker then...hmm I wonder...tevez.., mandzukic.., ....or...Austin..- yeah, Austin ...., Austin it is..

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  38. thats exactly what I heard; that spurs have bid high but its not up to the club, its up to Ings...and he wants to work with Brendan Rodgers...8)

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  39. no worries Gene; once I've finished with my ulcer meds I'll nip them over to you.....

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  40. ..you couldn't make it up could you...

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  41. yeah Jock but I'm a stickler for punishment...


    ...I still have a part of me that believes in santa claus and the tooth fairy...

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  42. I've been saying this for a while now as well.


    Though my main reasoning is the club won't want to take a loss on him.

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  43. Well he didn't win those trophies by himself. Most of his goals at AC his last season we're PKs. He wasn't even the third best striker at City when he 'won' the league. AC couldn't wait to dump him. FSG watched way too many ESPN highlights and bought into this 'tough-guy' image because ESPN guys think soccer is a game for sissies and Balo lived up to their NFL image of Balo and FSG bought it. I don't give a rat's what he WAS. What he is now is big, slow and too self-absorbed to even get back on side after possession has turned.

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  44. Except Aspas wasn't even on the bench...so I'm sure his winner's medal isn't too prominently displayed.

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  45. Yes when you weigh it up you would think that LFC or BR would like to make sure that their 'punt' has definitely no future before letting him go. But I'm not fussed if he's a back up striker...

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  46. I hear many things about strikers and the like, but I take them with a pinch pf something, like the LFC are preparing a £35m bid for Lacazette, and get this, the players prefers a move to LFC ove others.... I know right.... jesch... or Eduardo Salvio is a almost done deal after meetings and offers made.....these two deals on their own would make it something like £70m.... I also heard that Salvio actually needed surgery on his knee, which would put him out for the best part of seven months..... I love a good dance, but I think I'm going to pass out with all this being dragged in circles all summer..... I don't know where they get all these rumuors from, but you have to take your hat off to them for the persistance.... They'll get one right eventually...

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  47. While he has to buck up, it would seem to be the case that he's one of the players Rodgers has misused last season. If the manager manages to manage players properly without being limited to one tactical setting then perhaps we'd be able to utilise their natural talents better, harnessing their abilities for the betterment of the club's league prospects.

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  48. Depends on who's the next manager

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  49. Rodgers and Wisdom staying aswell ,so NO change from last season !

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  50. Last season 1EPL goal now 35 + ?

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  51. David Godoy Cano7:54 am, May 28, 2015

    The likes of Balotelli and Lambert dosen`t have the attributes to do well under Rodgers system. Im sure that both are good players when they can play on their strengts.
    I,ve been a Rodgers fan all the way, but latley its been hard too defend him. I think he is far to into his own system,witch is good to some extend. But as a manager for Liverpool you gotta be able to handle diffrent contexts and controll situations outcome to a much greater degree...and because of his unablity to do that, he is unable to capitalise on what he currently have in his squad..like Balotelli.
    Im 100% sure that if Balotelli is under the right guidance, and get the right kinda support, he would be valuable to any team....

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  52. Usually agree with you but not on this one. Both Milan and City sold him for less than they paid for him. They wanted shut

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  53. Even our now hated mercenary Pound Sterling cant be used as a striker when Balo is available. Now that Stevie is going, I want to see if Hendo is deluded enough to think he is better than Mario on penalties and free-kicks

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  54. It's not as though we can get many players if superior talent. He can be great at holding up the ball - how many times a game does he get fouled - and can link up play very well. Worth oneore season to see if BR can utilise him right.

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  55. He's behind you!

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  56. Ughh just imagine a cross between Neville and Rooney

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  57. Sounds like the agent trying to influence negotiations his way

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  58. Whoever manages us has his work cut out this summer. There is so much deadwood in the squad. Plus we have to be able to get rid of any existing players before we can bring in anyone new, with the PL 25 man squad in effect.

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  59. I like Balotelli and would love to see him have some help up front rather than a bunch of lightweight CMs and AMs surround him. We need a beast presence in Centre Midfield and we also need to have a fit striker working alongside Balo to get the best out of him.

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  60. The signing of Balotelli was a big ego trip for Brodge that blew up in his face. The dickhead thought he was THE manager that would turn him into a team player, and of course, he isn't. You knew it, I knew it, everybody screamed 'no thanks', and so it proved. The lad doesn't fit.
    Right now, ANY of the managers we've had in the past that are still drawing breath would be an improvement on what we have now.
    Unfortunately, if he (BR) was going any time soon, he would have been gone on Tuesday, so we're stuck with him for another 12 months.

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  61. Maverick 70mil attacker ?!?

    What a nonsense article?

    Who in the world reflects these views ?!?

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  62. And we are reportedly keen on putting 20 mill for benteke? Goodness!!

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  63. Obviously needs the team to be built around him and then youll only get results spasmodically get i would rid of him real quick.

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  64. reepzong lepcha1:29 pm, May 28, 2015

    Please buy a world class midfielder too

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  65. thexcuriousxwanderer1:54 pm, May 28, 2015

    Raiola is the sort of agent Sterling should have.

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  66. Baloteli is one fine player i.must say ....needs a lil more time

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  67. You do realize that FSG has appointed a transfer committee consisting of members who love football to make those decisions for them, right? Unfortunately they're not the best at picking players. John. W. Henry isn't part of the decision making when buying players. All he does is make sure their business model is working, and that the people below him is doing their job.


    Actually if FSG decides to fire Rodgers, they should fire the entire, or part of the transfer committee as well. If Henry does that during this summer then I will have to claim he is doing his job, very well so far.

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  68. I'd prefer to stick with Rodgers than believing that somehow, some way, Ancelotti would magically transform Liverpool back to a title winning club again. It's got to be Klopp or nothing.

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  69. If Balo returns, we are surely doomed.................

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  70. The way rodgers magically helped turn lfc to title challengers and a team playing like a conference team all in the space of 12 months has me believing in magic.

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