Selling Mario Balotelli to Liverpool for £16m made “everyone happy,” said Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini.

Selling Mario Balotelli to Liverpool for £16m made “everyone happy,” said Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini.

This does echo other comments made by Adriano Galliani and Coach Pippo Inzaghi, who said the team gained in unity following his departure.

“We all felt coming to ­Italy, to a place where he was loved, would have been the ideal environment for him to blossom into a star player. But it didn't work out for both sides,” Gandini told the Daily Star Sunday.

“Mario was not the kind of player we were looking for in order to have a better team on the pitch. On the other hand, he probably felt the Premier League was the best stage for him to perform on and he wanted to go back there.

“So Liverpool came at just the right time. It just made everyone happy. The way Mario plays is not like a pure number nine, a centre-forward.

“Our problem at Milan was not having a forward who played in the box. But Mario was not used to doing that.”

Gandini does have faith that Balotelli could put these issues behind him, as he is still only 24.

“I’ve known Mario for 18 months but I didn't have the opportunity to discuss his experiences, his stories and what he feels.

“I will say he is a very humble kid, very genuine but someone who needs success. He still has to find his way in life.”

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