Mario Balotelli’s congratulations to Sterling went down like a lead balloon with Liverpool fans

Was he being nice, inflammatory or just plain stupid?

Always difficult to tell when you're dealing with a character as complex as Mario Balotelli. The Liverpool striker took to Twitter today to congratulate former teammate Raheem Sterling on his first goal for new club Manchester City. And it went down about as well as an Alex Ferguson Celebration Parade on Merseyside.

@FinallyMario @sterling31 seriously get the fuck out of my club you useless piece of shit

— Dan. (@Lazallana) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 Ok time for you to go mate. — Anfield Chat (@TheAnfieldChat) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 bruh?

— anisah (@Anisah_LFC) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario once a blue, always a blue — (@LittleMerIin) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 wtf Mario?

— andy (@_AndyLFC) July 21, 2015

STEADY @FinallyMario @sterling31 — ️ (@RedRegista) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario you're still shit mate.

— BASTIUNITED (@TheFlashFF) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 what are you doing — Liverpool GFN (@LiverpoolGFN) July 21, 2015

..@FinallyMario @sterling31 Oh for fuck's sake

— Red Star Liverpool (@RedStarLvrpool) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 Hurry up and follow him out of the Anfield exit please — Olivavu (@KopWorldEditor) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 Shut up Mario

— Evan (@Bentekerrs) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 pic.twitter.com/X9JCk5hpl8 — Total LFC (@TotalLFC_) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario Cannot wait to see the back of you. Never deserved to wear the Red shirt with the poor attitude you have towards everything.

— Tyler Smith (@Tyl3r_Smith) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 Mario are you tick — Alan O Leary (@ALAN_O_LEARY_22) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 Jesus Christ

— Kieran Keating (@KieranKeating23) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 well done moron. Keep it up. — Kyle Lee (@KyleWilliamLee) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 don't even like you anymore

— m7 (@Shannxo) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 come on Mario lad, don't be at it — Martin Turner (@Turner_LFC) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 leave my club snake #ynwa

— •_^ (@tedddddddddhaha) July 21, 2015

@FinallyMario @sterling31 youve lost the 3 fans u had on your side with this stupid tweet. Bye bye mario — ImZan TuRan (@IMRAN60524425) July 21, 2015

And yet the Tweet remains undeleted.