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If a fine wasn’t enough for Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli for swapping shirts with Real Madrid defender Pepe after the first half, the Italian is now being criticized by former Liverpool legends Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp.
Balotelli was substituted off after the first half and his horrendous performance is drawing a lot of criticism towards him and manager Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking in a post-match telecast as Sky Sports pundits, the two Liverpool stars insisted that they will be surprised to see Balotelli at Anfield next season.
Balotelli’s future at Anfield in doubt
“I can't change the way I feel about Balotelli, and that is nothing to do with what he's done in a Liverpool shirt,” Carragher said. “It's what he's done at Manchester City and AC Milan.”
“Do I think he's going to be here long-term? No, I'd be surprised to see him here next season if I'm being honest,” he added.
Liverpool failed to score any goal against the current Champions who registered a comfortable 3-0 victory with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Karim Benzema while Balotelli failed to take even a single shot on target.
Brendan Rodgers’ fault
Jamie Redknapp puts the blame at manager Brendan Rodgers instead, stating Balotelli should have been left alone.
“I don't blame Mario Balotelli, I blame Brendan Rodgers for bringing him here. How he thought he could turn around a player who (Jose) Mourinho, (Roberto) Mancini and (Cesare) Prandelli have all washed their hands off.”
“There’s a reason when you go to the supermarket and something is half price. Why on earth they went for him I’ll never know. They should’ve just left him alone. The fact that they went and got him, it just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Balotelli was a panic buy
Liverpool had paid AC Milan £16 million last summer for the services of Mario Balotelli who has earlier played for Inter and Manchester City as well.
“It was a panic (buy),” Carragher adds. “They were on the verge of selling Borini to Sunderland and they were going to go into the season with Rickie Lambert really. Daniel Sturridge is there but he’s got massive injury problems – he always has and he always will.”
“We needed someone. Who was available? Who knows who Brendan Rodgers and his scouting staff went for but they left it too late. 'A lot of players have come in, they’re doing a decent job here and there but none of them have really done anything. They bring Balotelli in late on, they think they get can something out of him for £16m. It’s obviously a panic.”
Watch the full programme here:
