Mario Balotelli's outspoken agent, Mino Raiola has again come in the news due to his foul attack on current Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp. The Premier League club offloaded Balotelli on deadline day to Nice on a free transfer as the striker could not impress the manager after returning from AC Milan. His agent has been the kingmaker of this transfer window as Raiola's clients were the talk of the town for the entire summer.
Balotelli was made to train alone this preseason and also was not included in the squad for Liverpool's trip to the USA. The Italian was training with the reserves when Liverpool were playing in the International Champions Cup as Raiola shared his views on the treatment of the Italian, “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."
He later used foul language for the German which was totally uncalled for. “It’s not enough to say Klopp was unfair: he was a piece of s**t”.
The mercurial striker's agent also dissed about Serie A as he continued, “In France it’s a very physical league with new stadiums and more open football. In Italy the games always end 1-0 or 2-1. There is always too strong a focus on Mario in Italy. I tried to find him a place where he can be judged on his football and not his private life. We therefore had to exclude Italy, even if over the last two years his life off the field has been dead boring."
Lucien Favre wanted Balotelli at Nice
On Balotelli's decision to join the French club Nice, Raiola said, “Lucien Favre wanted Mario in the team and in the end that convinced us. In England he would’ve had to deal with the image of the past, while many clubs have so much money they’ll buy a player even if they don’t need him. It’s natural Balo is considered a risk because over the last two years he has not lived up to expectations. In that sense he’s a gamble, but I’d happily take those odds."
Raiola spoke further on how his client will become the face of Ligue 1 after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's departure, “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”.
Balotelli had offers from England, Italy and Spain but chose to join Nice, who have also signed defender, Dante. The 26-year-old Italian striker was signed by Brendan Rodgers for £16 million after the departure of Luis Suarez but could not impress anyone during his short Anfield career.
