Mario Balotelli can be a dominating force in the opposition penalty box on his day, but his career has been marred by his behaviour off the field.
According to reports, Balotelli was offered a bonus of £1m for good behaviour in his contract at Liverpool. The personnel at Anfield, considering his erratic disciplinary record, insisted he should behave "in a manner befitting of a Liverpool player."
The contract stated, "If during each season of the term of this contract the player is not dismissed from the field of play on three or more occasions for violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures and/or for dissent by word or action, then on the 30th June at the end of each season, he shall receive a bonus payment of £1m.”
Balotelli joined Liverpool in August 2014 for a fee of £16 million. This meagre fee could have resulted in a bargain for manager Brendan Rodgers had he tamed the volatile Italian. He endured a highly underwhelming time at the Merseyside club, netting a measly four goals in 28 appearances, out of which just one came in the league. Hardly a worthy successor of Luis Suarez.
Also read: Mario Balotelli promises to fly a helicopter over Nice if they win Ligue 1
As it transpired, the 26-year-old didn't receive a single red card at Liverpool, picking up seven yellow cards instead. Technically he had earned his bonus, whether or not he received it, is still not known.
Balotelli was also offered £50,000 per goal once he had scored more than five Premier League or Champions League goals in a season. This clause wasn't enforced due to his poor form.
The Italian, surprisingly still just 26, has played for Italian giants Inter and AC Milan. He was a part of the Manchester City squad that lifted the 2011-12 Premier League in historic fashion.
Balotelli has made headlines in the past for numerous off the field incidents, including a training ground bust-up with then Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. He was also left out of the Italy squad for the European championships. Who knew being a bad guy had its perks?
He returned to former club AC Milan on loan in 2015/16, and sought a free transfer to Nice in the following summer. The Italian forward has now rediscovered his goalscoring prowess at the French club. His seven goals have propelled the club to the top of Ligue 1.
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