Will Liverpool To Offload Mario Balotelli To Juventus?
According to reports, Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli is an active transfer target for Italian champions Juventus. Balotelli has so far failed to live up to the hype preceding his transfer to Liverpool in August, with only two goals since his arrival.
The Juventus manager, Massimo Allegri, has stated his intent to recruit Mario Balotelli within the January transfer window. Balotelli had been a part of Allegri’s AC Milan squad before his move to Anfield in the summer.
“We would like to recruit him, but we do not know if it’s possible. Mario had a good season with me. Unfortunately he’s built up a character outside the world of football and everyone talks about what he does off the pitch. All coaches love to lead the best players.”
Liverpool are actively trying to sign a striker with Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema on the club’s shortlist. Regardless, Liverpool will be boosted by news that Daniel Sturridge is finally training with the first team and may just end the Balotelli career at Liverpool.
Mario Balotelli may not be the only first team player to leave the club in January. Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva is reported target for Italian club Inter Milan. Many believe that Liverpool’s resurgence in form is a result of the Brazilian being reintroduced into the starting eleven.
Liverpool recorded a 1-0 against Sunderland on Saturday. With rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs losing over the weekend, the win has pushed Liverpool to within 5 points off the top 4.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident that return of a rejuvenated Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.
“The exciting thing is we have always been better in the second half of the season and that is the business end. We will get Raheem back fresh and Sturridge back fresh and we also have Adam Lallana to come back so it is going the way I hoped it would.”
Liverpool will hope that their usually strong end to their season will propel them into a Champions League spot by the end of the season, with or without Mario Balotelli.
[Image via the Independent]
