LIVERPOOL HAVE TODAY confirmed the signing of Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.
The striker emerged as a target for Reds manager Brendan Rodgers last week and Liverpool have been locked in talks with the former Manchester City star’s agent since agreeing a reported £16million (€20m) fee with Milan.
The 24-year-old Italian’s switch to Anfield had been widely expected after he was photographed going through a one-on-one session with the Reds’ head of conditioning and fitness Ryland Morgans while wearing a Liverpool training top at the club’s Melwood base earlier in the day.
Balotelli is believed to have agreed a three-year, heavily incentivised £90,000-per-week contract with the Premier League team after passing a two-part medical over the weekend.
With the deal done, Balotelli is reported to be keen to travel to Manchester on Monday evening to watch his new club play his former employers City at Eastlands.
Balotelli’s arrival on Merseyside represents a major gamble given his reputation as one of the sport’s most notorious bad-boys.
As well as dazzling with some spectacular goals, Balotelli has also infuriated a series of managers during a chaotic career which has included spells with Inter Milan, City and AC Milan, as well as with the Italy national side.
He clashed with Jose Mourinho on numerous occasions at Inter and also fell out with Roberto Mancini at City, with his eventual sale to Milan in 2013 prompted by a training ground fight with the Eastlands boss.
Rodgers initially ruled out a move for Balotelli during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States and he is believed to have asked for the player’s contract to include strict clauses about his behaviour on and off the pitch.
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The desire to land a top-class replacement for Luis Suarez, who was sold to Barcelona before the start of the season, eventually persuaded Rodgers to sanction the deal for Balotelli, who won the Premier League and FA Cup during his time at City.
Speaking about the standards of behaviour expected at Liverpool and his determination to protect them, Rodgers said: “I think every club will have a code of conduct for the people and professionals who work (for them).
“We have quite an extensive code of conduct for players and staff — there is no specific one for any one individual.
“We have a fantastic environment here and a great culture and I think it is something that was very important for us to create and build here.
“There will be nothing that will ever shake that or provoke it in any way. It is something I always protect at the club.”
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
