At the start of the month Brendan Rodgers stated to all who would listed: “I can categorically tell you Mario Balotelli will not be at Liverpool.” Either somebody failed to inform the Anfield personnel department, or the Liverpool manager is a bare-faced liar (or maybe circumstances changed; we prefer the simpler explanation).
Liverpool have reportedly agreed a fee of $27M (€20M) with AC Milan for the Italian striker’s signature, which is a remarkably good deal for a player of such proven talent. The club and the player’s agent are now finalizing personal terms, with Balotelli said to want a five-year contract worth $8M (€6M) p.a. after tax.
The18 can only doth its cap to the balls-out transfer policy Rodgers has pursued since the departure of Luis Suarez, even if – until now – it largely failed to yield results. Liverpool tilted at Alexis Sanchez, Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi before finally snaring Balotelli. The 24-year old will certainly fill Liverpool’s “troubled striker” quota: while at Manchester City, the Italian racked up 14 Yellow Cards and 3 Red Cards in 54 Premier League appearances, before taking City to an employment tribunal when they fined him two weeks’ wages for his poor disciplinary record.
Nevertheless, signing Balotelli will bring back the mercurial edge Liverpool lost when Suarez packed his bags for Catalonia. Like the man he’s replacing, Super Mario has the capacity to turn a game on its head through force of personality alone. Just as importantly, his goal-scoring will relieve some of the pressure currently falling on Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling: while not especially prolific at City, Balotelli has averaged a goal every 1.8 games during his season-and-a-half with the Rossoneri.
Make no mistake, Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers have just swapped the fire for the frying pan in replacing Suarez with Balotelli: Mario is mad, bad and dangerous to know, as much for his employers as opposing defenders. He’ll reward the Anfield faithful with goals, entertainment and moments of pure genius, all interspersed with a healthy dose head-scratching lunacy.
Dear Lord, thank you for returning him to the Premier League.
