'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Liverpool fans are so used to raving about a certain Luis Suarez for some time now. He did bring a lot of baggage with him but his commitment to the team and the passion with which he played the game meant that the fans were ready to overlook that fact. It was all going according to the plan for the Reds in the summer transfer window until Suarez got himself banned for four months for his antics at the World Cup. Barcelona offered to meet his release clause and he has quickly shipped off to the Nou Camp.
All this left Brendan Rodgers with the impossible task of replacing Luis Suarez, the golden boot winner in the 2013-14 season. But credit where it’s due, the Liverpool manager has gone about the task of replacing the Uruguayan in an admirable way having made some very exciting signings this transfer window. He has streghtened nearly every department and brought incredible depth to the squad which will hopefully make the Reds good enough to compete in all four competitions this season.
The Reds scored a remarkable 101 goals last season. The sale of Suarez to Barcelona has now put the spotlight on Daniel Sturridge. The English No. 9 was on top form last season and finished second in the top scorer’s list. This season, he’s expected to be the main man for Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool made a very astute signing in Rickie Lambert and added much needed variety to the Reds attack.
The loss of Luis Suarez was always going to be hard to take and Rodgers went on record and said that he would like to have four proven strikers this season. With Fabio Borini battling injuries and a shaky start to his Anfield career it was always obvious that the Reds would be looking to bring another top quality striker this transfer window. Ambitious inquires were made for Karim Benzema, Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani.
Mario Balotelli to the rescue?
After many unsuccessful inquiries Liverpool turned their attention to 24-year-old Mario Balotelli and he was signed for £16 million. What better person to replace Luis Suarez than Mario Balotelli?Balotelli is known for his crazy antics on and off the field. It would take every ounce of Brendan Rodgers’ famed man management skills to get the best out of the moody Italian.
Balotelli is well known for his maverick attitude wherever he has gone. Mourinho tried to tame him in his days at Inter Milan. “Madness” is Balotelli’s middle name and he angered the Inter Milan faithful by attending a show on TV wearing an AC Milan jersey. He also had to be physically hauled away by Javier Zanetti for refusing to let Samuel Eto’o take a penalty that he had earned.
Next up it was the turn of the Italian Roberto Mancini to try to tame Mario in his days at Manchester City. At City Balotelli was involved in training ground bust ups with Kompany,Richards and Boateng. Mancini finally ran out of patience when Balotelli attacked him at the training ground. He was immediately shipped off to AC Milan.
It is obvious that Mario Balotelli is no saint on or off the pitch. But what we have to take into consideration is that Mario is just 24 years old and has a lot of time on his hands to improve and become a world class forward. Most of his acts of madness when he was at Inter Milan and Manchester City were done when he was really young.
His time at AC Milan as a senior figure has helped him become more matured. No other player in Seria A has scored more goals than the 26 goals that Mario since joining AC Milan. So the talent is there for everyone to see. This is probably his last chance at the big stage to make a name for himself.
Anfield went crazy every time they saw Luis Suarez in action. No one knew what to expect from the Uruguayan, not even the opposition defenders. That’s why he was so successful at getting people off their seats.
There was some insanity in everything Luis Suarez did. It was a roller coaster ride. Now with Balotelli coming in that insanity is back at Anfield and the Reds will be hoping that Super Mario can produce some of the magic that Suarez produced.
Farewell, Luisito! Welcome to Anfield, Super Mario!
