Super Mario
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Is this the first signing Skully has ever endorsed?
I don't know, it's been mooted for a while.. I know we played it down, but maybe there had been initial interest.
I remember hearing AC Milan fans last season bitching, moaning, and complaining about Balotelli so I had a look at his stats...14 league goals, 18 total.
I love this forum - "Jaysus, LFC really know how to drag out a transfer ...", "this was a little too fast, maybe ..."
Is there an SCM optimum time from "first rumour" to "pen on paper"? I would suggest 7.25 working days to be the ideal target, but that does lay the lizards open to criticism of deliberately including 2 weekends and a bank holiday in that to get those few extra days in
Is there an SCM optimum time from "first rumour" to "pen on paper"? I would suggest 7.25 working days to be the ideal target, but that does lay the lizards open to criticism of deliberately including 2 weekends and a bank holiday in that to get those few extra days in
I wonder how the sponsorship BS factors into all this. Balotelli is one of Puma's main attractions, how does that affect things with Warrior? Does it matter at all?
So much this....
Not 'arf.
I used to think Mario is absolutely mental but after watching this video, I realize he's no different than most of us. He's actually pretty aight.
He just needs love and acceptance.
And hopefully with Brodge's arms around Mario, the big baby in a man's body will begin to grow up and be the footballer he can actually be.
I'm no psychologist but it's pretty obvious from the video that Mario's problem is his confidence.
I'm actually kinda warming up to him a bit.
Absolutely, just seems like Milan wanted him gone quickly
I have a bad feeling about this transfer. I can't see him being a success for us.
Suarez was a nutter but always gave 120% of himself on the field.
Now we got ourselves a nutter who seems to be disinterested at times (if not lazy).
I hope I'm wrong, because this season a top 4 is a must, and probably a minimum.
Suarez was a nutter but always gave 120% of himself on the field.
Now we got ourselves a nutter who seems to be disinterested at times (if not lazy).
I hope I'm wrong, because this season a top 4 is a must, and probably a minimum.
You bastard, I was taking a sip of coffee when I read that.
Warrior got closed down the other day, so I don't think they care anymore.
Talking of which, why has no one made a thread about that?
Mario Balotelli transfer: Liverpool will seek assurances over striker's behaviour ahead of £16m move
The Reds are on the verge of bringing the Italian hitman back to the Premier League but want to know that the 24-year-old will behave himself
Getty
Best behaviour: Rodgers wants Balotelli focused on his football
Liverpool are on the verge of a remarkable £16m deal to bring Mario Balotelli to Anfield...just weeks after “categorically” dismissing the prospect.
Reds chief Ian Ayre has a agreed the fee with AC Milan, and now talks will get underway with representatives of the controversial Italy international, who have flown into Merseyside today for face to face negotations.
Sources at the club suggest there are still some “significant” hurdles to overcome in talks over personal terms, not least with regard to the demands boss Brendan Rodgers will make about how Balotelli conducts himself.
Yet if the player's agent Mino Raiola offers the right assurances, then the former Manchester City striker will himself fly into Liverpool over the weekend, to sit down with Rodgers to be given the lowdown on what is expected. Balotelli clearly expects that to happen, after going on record to say that today was his last at Milan, and he would be joining Liverpool.
And that will represent a monumental U-turn for the club, with the Anfield managerhimself saying on the record less than three weeks ago that while he was an admirer of the Italian's talents, he could categorically confirm he would never become a Liverpool player.
The reason for the about face is simple: the size of the fee. When Balotelli was first being offered for sale by Milan, the asking price was somewhere in the region of £40m. Even in early August, when the two clubs met in Charlotte in a pre-season friendly, the fee was still well above £25m.
VIEW GALLERY
Liverpool though, have suffered several set backs since, in their search for a striker to plug the gaping hole left by the departure of Luis Suarez. A £7m deal for Loic Remy fell through when he failed a medical, and despite repeated attempts by Rodgers to pursue a loan deal for Colombia star Radamel Falcao, an agreement has not been possible.
Because of that situation – and the fact their exciting summer signing Divock Origi will not arrive until the end of the season after they agreed to loan him back to Lille for a year – the Reds asked about a 12 month loan deal for Balotelli.
The response from AC Milan was a crippling loan fee, and no guarantee they would take the player back, should he transgress in his time at Anfield.
READ MORE: 17 of Balotelli's best moments
Rodgers though, was encouraged by the suggestion from the Italian club vice-president, Adriano Galliani that a position could be reached on the fee that would appease both parties...and allow a permanent deal.
After talks this morning, the fee was thrashed down from £24m to £16m, and most of that will be paid in easy instalments over a five-year period.
That represents great value for a striker with world class attributes...even if he has world class problems. Liverpool have been seduced by the idea that they are getting a player of the highest level for a fee not much different from the one that Southampton paid for Shane Long.
It is that “value” which had led Rodgers to take the gamble, and persuade the manager to attempt to bring Balotelli into the culture at Anfield that kept Luis Suarez's excesses at bay for much of last season.
Sources close to the manager have confirmed that the decision to pursue the deal ultimately was taken by Rodgers himself, who has the final say on any transfer deal.
He knows it is a risk, but he believes with Daniel Sturridge the main focus and Balotelli working to support the England striker, it is not a massive risk at that price.
There is still much work to be done though. Balotelli will be told in no uncertain terms that the transfer will only be completed if he agrees to the codes of conduct Liverpool will impose. Only then, will Rodgers sit down with the player and try to find an arrangement that will allow him to come to Anfield.
That means talks will continue over the weekend and any deal will not be completed until early next week...if talks go welll. It is still, though, a remarkable transfer, and one of the most controversial in Liverpool history.
The Reds are on the verge of bringing the Italian hitman back to the Premier League but want to know that the 24-year-old will behave himself
Getty
Best behaviour: Rodgers wants Balotelli focused on his football
Liverpool are on the verge of a remarkable £16m deal to bring Mario Balotelli to Anfield...just weeks after “categorically” dismissing the prospect.
Reds chief Ian Ayre has a agreed the fee with AC Milan, and now talks will get underway with representatives of the controversial Italy international, who have flown into Merseyside today for face to face negotations.
Sources at the club suggest there are still some “significant” hurdles to overcome in talks over personal terms, not least with regard to the demands boss Brendan Rodgers will make about how Balotelli conducts himself.
Yet if the player's agent Mino Raiola offers the right assurances, then the former Manchester City striker will himself fly into Liverpool over the weekend, to sit down with Rodgers to be given the lowdown on what is expected. Balotelli clearly expects that to happen, after going on record to say that today was his last at Milan, and he would be joining Liverpool.
And that will represent a monumental U-turn for the club, with the Anfield managerhimself saying on the record less than three weeks ago that while he was an admirer of the Italian's talents, he could categorically confirm he would never become a Liverpool player.
The reason for the about face is simple: the size of the fee. When Balotelli was first being offered for sale by Milan, the asking price was somewhere in the region of £40m. Even in early August, when the two clubs met in Charlotte in a pre-season friendly, the fee was still well above £25m.
Liverpool though, have suffered several set backs since, in their search for a striker to plug the gaping hole left by the departure of Luis Suarez. A £7m deal for Loic Remy fell through when he failed a medical, and despite repeated attempts by Rodgers to pursue a loan deal for Colombia star Radamel Falcao, an agreement has not been possible.
Because of that situation – and the fact their exciting summer signing Divock Origi will not arrive until the end of the season after they agreed to loan him back to Lille for a year – the Reds asked about a 12 month loan deal for Balotelli.
The response from AC Milan was a crippling loan fee, and no guarantee they would take the player back, should he transgress in his time at Anfield.
READ MORE: 17 of Balotelli's best moments
Rodgers though, was encouraged by the suggestion from the Italian club vice-president, Adriano Galliani that a position could be reached on the fee that would appease both parties...and allow a permanent deal.
After talks this morning, the fee was thrashed down from £24m to £16m, and most of that will be paid in easy instalments over a five-year period.
That represents great value for a striker with world class attributes...even if he has world class problems. Liverpool have been seduced by the idea that they are getting a player of the highest level for a fee not much different from the one that Southampton paid for Shane Long.
It is that “value” which had led Rodgers to take the gamble, and persuade the manager to attempt to bring Balotelli into the culture at Anfield that kept Luis Suarez's excesses at bay for much of last season.
Sources close to the manager have confirmed that the decision to pursue the deal ultimately was taken by Rodgers himself, who has the final say on any transfer deal.
He knows it is a risk, but he believes with Daniel Sturridge the main focus and Balotelli working to support the England striker, it is not a massive risk at that price.
There is still much work to be done though. Balotelli will be told in no uncertain terms that the transfer will only be completed if he agrees to the codes of conduct Liverpool will impose. Only then, will Rodgers sit down with the player and try to find an arrangement that will allow him to come to Anfield.
That means talks will continue over the weekend and any deal will not be completed until early next week...if talks go welll. It is still, though, a remarkable transfer, and one of the most controversial in Liverpool history.
I can't stop laughing about this transfer. It's like signing the mad dentist from little shop of horrors. Or dr emmet brown from back to the future. Or Kramer from Seinfeld, - but with goals!
First Brodge says it's 100% not going to happen. Then It happens quicker than any signing we've ever made. No saga, no drama, bang.
It's such a good signing, yes he will be lazy, but he will also be excellent. We'll recoup the fee which is very good for this player, and we've got in a world class striker. The only downside is that he's a nutter, but that frequently works in our favor. Honestly at this price, at this point in the window, you can't complain, even if you are moody, mean modo 😉
Plus falcao has an injury, that may recur or dampen his abilities.
And borini's transfer means it costs maybe $4m in outlay?
I think the club and Ayre deserve not to be slagged on here for at least 2 months!
I can't stop chuckling,
Good signing,
First Brodge says it's 100% not going to happen. Then It happens quicker than any signing we've ever made. No saga, no drama, bang.
It's such a good signing, yes he will be lazy, but he will also be excellent. We'll recoup the fee which is very good for this player, and we've got in a world class striker. The only downside is that he's a nutter, but that frequently works in our favor. Honestly at this price, at this point in the window, you can't complain, even if you are moody, mean modo 😉
Plus falcao has an injury, that may recur or dampen his abilities.
And borini's transfer means it costs maybe $4m in outlay?
I think the club and Ayre deserve not to be slagged on here for at least 2 months!
I can't stop chuckling,
Good signing,
It's a great deal. Huge potential upside, little risk with the fee. As long as brodge is firm with him and dumps him if he starts to cause problems with the team, it's all good. He's used to the prem and can score goals. Plenty of which are the sort that come out of nowhere and turn a game on it's head.
Correct. That loud ringing you can hear is the sound of warning bells.
I think it's because they were trying to raise funds for whoever Inzaghi wanted, which sounds like 25M Douglas Costa.
Really?
They're just being rebranded as New Balance.
Next year - Sturridge, Super Mario, and Origi
[h2]Sturridge's reaction Mario's signing[/h2]
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I'm very excited about this. I'd move on Borini as sons as this is done and still hope to bring in one more attacking signing before the end of the window. Of course we're taking a chance, but we'd be taking a chance on Bony or especially Eto'o.
The mancs will hate him too.
Could be a good time to be signing him. Just in time for him to start to mature. He's definately going to want to prove himself in the prem.
The mancs will hate him too.
Could be a good time to be signing him. Just in time for him to start to mature. He's definately going to want to prove himself in the prem.
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