Now or never for Mario Balotelli

In hot water: Liverpool may reprimand Mario Balotelli for his ill-advised half-time shirt exchange

Mario Balotelli knows the potential card can be played no more. The Italian is aware of the luminous achievements of those his age, 24, and knows he must deliver sooner and later, and for the Italian, preferably sooner.

It always seemed too audacious and too hopeful. Brendan Rodgers is a manager of unique substance, an adroit motivator and man-manager, but it seemed Rodgers had embarked on a mission to transform Mario Balotelli in great hope rather than great expectation. Roberto Mancini, Jose Mourinho and Cesare Prandelli had all failed. What made Rodgers believe he would be the manager to finally unlock Balotelli’s talent, nurture the Italian into the striker he has always dreamt of being?

Perhaps it was panic and the fear of entering a season with a squad devoid of a suitable replacement for the departed Luis Suarez and the strains of European competition to consider. Rodgers’s striking options were discerningly limited when he acquired Balotelli, the maverick with a tainted reputation. Other strikers were available on the market but Liverpool knew they had to bring in a global name to compensate for Suarez’s departure. They needed someone in and quick. So, no surprise, Rodgers turned to Balotelli.

Rodgers’s exasperation

Rodgers is quickly becoming exasperated with Balotelli, quickly losing patience with the striker. Although insisting Balotelli’s work rate is of a sufficient standard, Rodgers’s unsatisfaction was patently clear. Balotelli was replaced by Adam Lallana at half-time of Liverpools humiliating 0-3 defeat to European Cup holders Real Madrid and Rodgers was hardly pleased. "Adam Lallana came on and was tireless in his work rate. That is the minimum here at Liverpool - you need to press, you need to work. Young Adam came on and did that very well,” said the Northern Irishman.

Rodgers is adamant the goals will come from Balotelli but it seems it is the Italian’s perceived dearth of commited work ethic which most pertubs Rodgers. The 24 year-old, however, could point to the fact his Liverpool colleagues are jaded and wayward. Raheem Sterling has tended to drift out of games, although excelling on Wednesday evenng. Phillipe Coutinho, although impressing on international duty with Brazil, has failed to work the Samba magic so pivotal to Liverpool’s success last season. Steven Gerrard, who adapted seamlessly to his sweeper role, has struggled to impose himself on matches.

But then there is a different issue altogether. Rodgers was understandably incensed by Balotelli’s half-time shirt exchange with Real centre-half Pepe, an inexplicable act. For a club as historic and illustrious as Liverpool, the Kop deserves an apology. Balotelli will surely by reprimanded by his club. No wonder he was selling for half price, available for a not vindicative of his decorated CV. AC Milan knew they had to cut their losses on him and move on from the Italian. It is hardly puzzling that Gianluca Vialli hailed the sale as the “greatest sale in Milan’s history”.

Balotelli must deliver

The former Manchester City striker has simply failed to adapt to Liverpool’s quick, slick and ruthless play, the expansive style of football tirellesly promoted by Rodgers. Perhaps the Italian is too stationary, unwilling to make the darting, intelligent runs so common when Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge graced Anfield last season. Too often in the first 45 minutes against Real, a subdued Balotelli failed to concern Real’s central halves Raphael Varane and Pepe, whom he advanced to exchange shirts with.

Time is running out for Balotelli. The Italian has only one Liverpool goal to his name, against Ludogorets Razgard in Liverpool’s opening Champions League encounter, but if Anfield are to retain unerring belief in the Italian, remain insistent Balotelli will eventually come good, then he must deliver with added conviction and speed.

After all, time is running out for Balotelli on a larger scale. His career has swayed uncontrollably from the fringes of success to the fringes of despair. It is little wonder the Italian’s agent Mino Railoa dubbed Balotelli’s dramatic move to Anfield as his “last chance”. Perhaps the Italian is fortunate Rodgers even took a risk on him, juggled with fire in integrating the striker back amongst Europe’s elite in the UEFA Champions League.

That is, understandably, where Balotelli wants to be. The Italian eulogises of becoming the world’s best striker in the near future and obliterating his unwelcome “bad boy” tag.

But time is running out.