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After FSG pressed manager to make a risky transfer decision, Liverpool striker was “disgrace” in training.

On this day in 2014, Mario Balotelli, who had previously played for Manchester City and Inter Milan, transferred from AC Milan to Liverpool for a fee of £16 million.
I believe this was a pretty wise business decision on our part. For the club, this transfer offers exceptional value.
Mario Balotelli should have been everything Liverpool needed, on the surface. But in fact, it turned out to be the exact reverse.
Although Balotelli had “baggage,” spending £16 million on a 24-year-old striker whose goals had already contributed to winning domestic championships in Italy and England appeared like wise financial decision.
After world-class striker Luis Suarez left Anfield to join Barcelona for £75 million in 2014, Liverpool sought out more firepower, but that search ended up being very difficult.
The Reds ultimately decided on Balotelli. It turned out to be a terrible decision. Brendan Rodgers has a reputation for handling people well, but handling the Italian proved to be a step too far for him.
Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, stressed that the player knew he was in a “last chance saloon,” and Rodgers emphasized the club had done its due diligence on him and had received the guarantees it sought over his behavior and commitment to the cause.
Yes, at the highest level, Raiola acknowledged. “Now, it’s make or break. if something is wrong? 24 years old, Mario. His age is no longer an acceptable excuse. He now has the choice. Another failure is not a good idea.
However, the meager return of four goals in 28 games across all competitions was disappointing, and all the commitments Balotelli made to the team’s culture in his office with the manager before signing the contract were broken.
One tale from Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Queens Park Rangers in mid-October shows how the situation was unraveling. It didn’t take the Italian’s teammates long to lose patience with him.
One player claimed to the Athletic that “he hardly moved.” He received a lot of caning from the boys, but there wasn’t much of a response other than a few scowls and ‘f*** you.’
“He didn’t make an effort to defend anything or suggest ways that others could improve. That’s always a telltale sign that someone isn’t thinking or caring.
He frequently skipped training at Melwood, disrupted sessions while he was present, failed to learn the names of important first-team players, and eventually wore out Rodgers’ patience with him.
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