In a Sky Sports exclusive, reporter Paul Gilmour has managed to sit down with football agent Mino Raiola and talk about how his client Mario Balotelli feels at Liverpool.
The 24-year-old Italian international has struggled at Anfield since his £16 million transfer from AC Milan in the summer having not as yet scored a single goal in the Premiership, which has led him to be dropped from manager Rodgers first-team squad with Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert moving above the Italian in the pecking order.
Balotelli’s agent, who also lists Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as clients, thinks that Mario will return “stronger than ever”.
“Yes, he is happy at Liverpool,” said Raiola after Balotelli was left out of the squad to face Bolton in the FA Cup at the weekend.
“Nobody is happy to be left out but he reacted in a professional way.”
Balotelli arrived at Anfield following the departure of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona with much expected of the young Italian.
“They are different players,” he added. “Liverpool knew that and people need to know he is not Suarez. Mario needs to adapt and Liverpool need to adapt.”
Raiola continued: “He was injured and moved to a big club. Mario will win this struggle and become better. It is then up to Brendan Rodgers to give him a chance.”
So how is his relationship with Rodgers?
“They’re talking and it is a good relationship,” explained the agent. “Mario likes him. They do not agree on everything. It is technical reasons they don’t agree on but Mario will strive to give the manager what he wants. This move was the right thing to do in his career. He’s still one of the best in the world.”
Meanwhile Rodgers says he likes Balotelli and that he will be given a chance on Merseyside rubbishing reports that Liverpool wants to sell him.
Raiola agrees, saying: “We didn’t ask to leave. It is too early, with the injury, to say we leave in January. There are no big problems. He’s adapting to a new style that the manager wants. We’ll see in the summer.”
