While it’s reported Napoli want Mario Balotelli from Liverpool in January, Andrea Pirlo says he just needs “love.”
The Italy striker has struggled to settle at Anfield and has scored one goal in the Champions League, failing to net in the Premier League despite having more attempts than any other player.
While it’s reported Napoli want Mario Balotelli from Liverpool in January, Andrea Pirlo says he just needs “love.”
The Italy striker has struggled to settle at Anfield and has scored one goal in the Champions League, failing to net in the Premier League despite having more attempts than any other player.
According to Metro newspaper, Napoli are prepared to offer £10m (around €12.6m) to take Balotelli off Liverpool’s hands in January.
That would be a drop of £6m from the price Liverpool paid to sign him from Milan just three months ago.
Napoli has traditionally had a more open attitude towards wild behaviour from its players and murals to Diego Maradona still cover the city streets.
Balotelli would also have a different reason for preferring Naples, as his daughter Pia and ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico live there.
Meanwhile, Balo’s Italy teammate Pirlo insists the 24-year-old “needs to be loved, needs direction, but most importantly needs to know that the Coach believes in him.
“The difference between other players and Mario is that every action he takes is going to be scrutinised,” Pirlo told the Daily Mail.
“The media is interested in him, and things he does are going to be highlighted – where perhaps with other players they would not get such a reaction – or maybe even no reaction at all.
“There is no question over his talent – I have played with him and I know how good he is and how good he can be. It is the job of the Liverpool coach to manage him in the right way.”