Mario Balotelli: Liverpool complete £16m transfer Italy striker Mario Balotelli has completed his £16m move to Liverpool from Serie A side AC Milan.The former Manchester City player, 24,
agreed a long-term deal with the Merseyside outfit but will not feature against his old club on Monday night.Balotelli left City 17 months ago after scoring 30 goals in three seasons.
"This transfer represents outstanding value for the club and I think we have done a really smart piece of business here," said Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
Balotelli, who will wear the number 45 shirt, added:
"I'm happy to be here. Liverpool are one of the best teams here in England and the football is very good here."It's a great team with young players and that's why I came here."
Rodgers added: "There is no doubting Mario's ability.
"He is a world-class talent and someone who, for such a young age, has vast experience of playing at the very highest level.
"He has scored goals in the Barclays Premier League, in Italy, in the Champions League and for his country at international level.
"I believe we have the infrastructure, culture and environment to get the best out of him and help him achieve his true potential.
"We are a strong group here, committed to hard work and he will benefit from being around it.
"I am looking forward to working with him and helping him learn more, improve and progress as a player. I'm sure the supporters will make him feel very welcome."
Liverpool are understood to have sought assurances from the Italian about his commitment and off-field behaviour.Balotelli is a controversial figure both on and off the pitch, but Rodgers insisted before the deal was done that any player he signs will not be a disruptive influence.
There had been suggestions former Chelsea forward Samuel Eto'o was on standby to sign for Liverpool had the Balotelli deal broken down.
The Italian becomes Liverpool's ninth signing of the summer transfer window and takes their spending to more than £100m.The Reds recouped £75m from the sale of last season's top-scorer Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
Balotelli was a big hit with City supporters, helping the club win a first league title since 1968.
But he was also in the headlines for several off-the-pitch incidents,
including a training-ground row withIn his second season in Manchester, he scored only three goals in 20 games.
The striker agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Milan in January 2013 and played for Italy at the World Cup in Brazil.
Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie believes the signing of Balotelli is a big risk for his former side.
"His reputation does go before him," he told BBC Radio 5 live.
"Brendan Rodgers, out of all the young managers, would probably be the one to handle him better than most, but I still think it's a big gamble."
then-manager Roberto Mancini.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28927162 [ 此帖被羅力亞在2014-08-26 00:39重新編輯 ]
