Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher took a final parting shot at Reds flop Mario Balotelli ahead of the Italian’s loan move back to AC Milan, calling his signing a “major mistake” and wondering why the Rossoneri are willing to give the forward another chance.
As reported by the Daily Star‘s Marc Williams, Carragher didn’t pull any punches on Sky Sports, saying:
The Balotelli signing was a major mistake from the whole club.
He (Rodgers) has got Benteke and Sturridge to come back. I still can’t believe he signed him, but it hasn’t worked out and he’s going to move.
He’s kidded some coaches if he’s got another move this time to AC Milan. Where’s the evidence of his quality?!
Here’s the video of the full segment:
According to Sky Sports, the Italy international traveled to Milan to undergo a medical on Monday, with the official announcement of his loan move expected imminently.
The 25-year-old moved from Milan to Liverpool in the summer of 2014 amid much fanfare but failed spectacularly at Anfield, scoring just one Premier League goal all season, per WhoScored.com.
He never seemed likely to play a big role in the 2015-16 campaign and will now return to the San Siro, where he enjoyed some of the biggest successes of his club career. Milan started the season with a 2-0 loss against Fiorentina, and the Rossoneri are still in need of an established back-up striker behind summer arrival Carlos Bacca.
Balotelli’s struggles with Liverpool were a source of mockery all of last year, and when Reds manager Brendan Rodgers gave an evasive answer upon being asked about his future on Monday, ESPN FC’s Michael Cox took the opportunity to take a shot of his own:
The Daily Telegraph‘s Mark Ogden isn’t exactly sad to see him go:
Super Mario’s career has been a roller-coaster ride, filled with ups and downs at every stop he has made. He looked an incredible talent during his days with Inter Milan, ruined his chances of success with Manchester City with a series of controversial incidents and finally seemed to blossom into a world-class striker when he first moved to the Rossoneri.
After scoring 12 goals in 12 matches to start his Milan career, via WhoScored, his form once again slumped. As Balotelli started playing worse and worse, so did Milan. By the summer of 2014, the club was determined to ship him out, and Liverpool took the bait.
BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty is more than puzzled by Milan’s decision to bring him back:
The Italian has the uncanny ability to attract controversy wherever he goes, but usually, he finds ways to be productive early before wearing out his welcome. At Anfield, he couldn’t even do that, and at the age of 25, his career already looks to be in a downward spiral.
According to Sky Sports’ Fabrizio Romano, Milan will not have the option to make Balotelli’s move permanent, and even if he performs well at the San Siro, you have to wonder whether any club will be willing to make a significant investment for his services next year, when he looks all but certain to leave Liverpool for good.
There’s no way around it―the Balotelli transfer was a huge flop for Liverpool, and in all likelihood, the Reds will only be able to recover a fraction of the fee it took to bring the Italian to Anfield in the first place.
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