IF MARIO BALOTELLI wants to play senior football this season then he must find another club, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says.
Balotelli – along with Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique – has been told he is surplus to requirements at Anfield and Rodgers has insisted he will not change his mind after the controversial Italian striker’s poor first season in the Premier League.
The unwanted trio of players have been told to train with Liverpool’s youth team, prompting Jose Enrique to claim last week that Rodgers has “alienated” them.
But Rodgers shifted the blame right back on the players on Sunday, arguing Liverpool will not stand in the way of a transfer.
“He [Balotelli] clearly knows his situation and where he’s at,” Rodgers said.
“There’s nothing to add. All of the players understand where they’re at.
“My job is to create the best possible environment for the team to succeed. That’s what I’ve always done. So I’m not going to speak about Mario when I can speak about another 25 players.”
Balotelli scored just one goal in 16 Premier League appearances last term, Enrique only played four matches, while Borini has effectively been irrelevant at Anfield since he arrived for the 2012-13 season.
Borini has been linked with another loan stint at Sunderland, where he spent the 2013-14 campaign, while West Brom are reportedly interested in Jose Enrique.
Sampdoria have been the most vocal suitors for Balotelli, although the Serie A club have indicated they are put off by the 25-year-old forward’s price tag.
But Rodgers reckons a transfer will simply come down to what Balotelli wants to do.
“I’ll always treat individuals with respect and try to make sure they understand the situation, where they’re at – it’s then their choice,” the Northern Irishman said.
“If the manager and the club give a player a situation, if they really want to play, I’m sure they’ll find a solution. If they don’t, then at least they know where they stand.”
RiP Anna K. other threads blocked.
@Damian Moylan: hear, hear
https://www.gofundme.com/f/1sc9471cmo
Please if you have a chance
If George Hamilton mentions Allison’s lack of clean sheets once more tonight, I’ll make my way to Anfield to personally shove Hamilton’s hands up his own h0le
@Ian Synnott: that’s oddly specific
@Ave it: Hamilton is being very specific about Allison’s lack of clean sheets.
@Ian Synnott: and fireworks…
@Ian Synnott: cant listen to him anymore. Surely he means liverpool’s and not Allison’s. The man had like 22 of them last season. Has played f all this year. This must be why your upset ha.
@Ave it: whilst failing to recognize that this he has only played 4 games this season
@Ian Synnott: I was talking about the hands…
@Ave it: ah sure, why not
@Yorkie1892: Might as well just send him out to watch the fireworks. Lug
Jürgen Flopp
@Joe Shea: well I don’t know what you consider a flop, but I’ll have plenty more of it.
Just look at the style of football being played man.
@Joe Shea: Good man Joe.
@Logan Shepherd: fair play logan
@Joe Shea: He has 1 less UCL trophy than Fergie from about a quarter of the attempts. Fergie, 2 from 19 = PALTRY!
@Roger Paltry: don’t u bring utd into this… That’s not fair .. Ur playing dirty
@Joe Shea: Do you do live gigs Joe. You’re so funny and so original. I’d say it would be a great night.
@Logan Shepherd: a joke is only as good as a laugh or is it other way around
@Roger Paltry: Klopp lost 8 finals in a row before he won one …. you make me laugh Wroger !
@Scott Stonebridge: #fakenews. Klopp won his first final.
Someone get Keith Andrews off commentary
@Brian McGuinness: He’s an abomination,how in the hell did he ever become analyst. The muck put of him. With his Tod Flanders hair cut.
@Brian McGuinness: he’s not as bad as David myler
@Declan O Toole: He’s chronic
@Declan O Toole: Todd Flanders! Brilliant
@Ian Synnott: Ha ha
Can’t beat an Ox in the box.
3-1 Genk
@Fergus O’Connor: draw for sure
@Joe Shea: I see all the pundits are online tonight.
@Fergus O’Connor: Genk are not that good!
@Damian Moylan: No 1-1
Clean sheets this season is very bad. Easy goals from set pieces conceded again.
@Yorkie1892: yeah. Definitely needs ti be tightened up quick. Especially going into crimbo fixtures. Forwards get tired and cant always bail out.
Gomez and Keita not good enough for Liverpool.