Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola used foul language to describe Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp and feels he’ll put OGC Nice on the map.
The striker was eventually allowed to leave on a free transfer to French side Nice on deadline day, having been linked with numerous clubs including Palermo, Chievo and Bologna.
He was told by Klopp that there was no place for him at Anfield after a loan spell at Milan.
“At the end of the day the Liverpool directors admitted Klopp was unfair,” Raiola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola used foul language to describe Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp and feels he’ll put OGC Nice on the map.
The striker was eventually allowed to leave on a free transfer to French side Nice on deadline day, having been linked with numerous clubs including Palermo, Chievo and Bologna.
He was told by Klopp that there was no place for him at Anfield after a loan spell at Milan.
“At the end of the day the Liverpool directors admitted Klopp was unfair,” Raiola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I won’t judge him as a Coach, even if for me he isn’t a great tactician, but I don’t think he realised we were talking about a person. Mario was exemplary, he never complained even when training alone.
“It’s not enough to say Klopp was unfair: he was a piece of ****”
Raiola did not hold back when explaining why Balotelli opted for Nice either.
“In France it’s a very physical league with new stadiums and more open football. In Italy the games always end 1-0 or 2-1.
“There is always too strong a focus on Mario in Italy. I tried to find him a place where he can be judged on his football and not his private life. We therefore had to exclude Italy, even if over the last two years his life off the field has been dead boring.
“Lucien Favre wanted Mario in the team and in the end that convinced us. In England he would’ve had to deal with the image of the past, while many clubs have so much money they’ll buy a player even if they don’t need him.
“It’s natural Balo is considered a risk because over the last two years he has not lived up to expectations. In that sense he’s a gamble, but I’d happily take those odds.
“If it goes well, you win the League. If it’s only decent, you finish in the top five. If it goes badly, oh well.
“Those who have the TV rights for Ligue 1 should give Nice a bonus. Without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, this League has lost at least 50 per cent of its media value. With Mario, it recovers at least 30 per cent, because he’s a talented star, hoping this year it finally works out for him.
“I expect 20 goals this season. And if he’s in the same shape as he is now, he’ll definitely get 20.”