When you’ve got the combination of one of the most controversial players in world football and one of the most outspoken agents on the planet, it’s a recipe for fireworks.
Mario Balotelli and his agent Mino Raiola speak their minds, often to their detriment. But it’s just what they do.
And after Balotelli’s deadline day move to OGC Nice, Raiola did just that when he was asked about his client’s treatment during his time at Liverpool.
Raiola, who also looks after Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku, claims that he was told by Liverpool executives that they agreed that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was mistreating Balotelli prior to his move to Ligue 1.
“At the end of the day the Liverpool directors admitted Klopp was unfair,” Raiola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I won’t judge him as a coach, even if for me he isn’t a great tactician, but I don’t think he realised we were talking about a person. Mario was exemplary, he never complained even when training alone.
“It’s not enough to say Klopp was unfair: he was a piece of shit.”
Balotelli endured a nightmarish time at Anfield, playing just 28 games in total after Brendan Rodgers admitted he had taken a risk on the Italian forward.
It was a gamble that didn’t pay off and Raiola has conceded that the 26-year-old remains a risk, which is why it took until the final day of the transfer window before a club bit the bullet and brought him in.
But Raiola believes that Balotelli, one of his most high-profile players, can come good in France.
“It’s natural Balo is considered a risk because over the last two years he has not lived up to expectations,” he continued. “In that sense he’s a gamble, but I’d happily take those odds.
“If it goes well, you win the League. If it’s only decent, you finish in the top five. If it goes badly, oh well.
“Those who have the TV rights for Ligue 1 should give Nice a bonus. Without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, this League has lost at least 50 per cent of its media value. With Mario, it recovers at least 30 per cent, because he’s a talented star, hoping this year it finally works out for him.
“I expect 20 goals this season. And if he’s in the same shape as he is now, he’ll definitely get 20.”
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