Mario Balotelli has recalled his shock at the friendly reception Liverpool fans – who once hated him at Manchester City – gave him when he signed.
The enigmatic figure that was Balotelli first saw himself brought into English football by big-spending City in 2010 after showing promise at Inter Milan.
But just three years later, with more sparks flying off the pitch than on it, he returned to Italy for one season with AC Milan before the English top flight beckoned again, this time the calls sounded from Anfield.
Despite the fact that this choice to return to the Premier League would later be called the worst decision of the striker's life, Balotelli expressed his surprise at the reception Reds fans gave him, given the vilification he would receive from them during his time in Manchester.
“I didn't expect it,” Balotelli admitted when he signed in 2014. “Because I always played against Liverpool, and when I played against them the fans weren't nice to me, but that's normal: it's football!”
“Now that I play for Liverpool, I see people's expectations. They are very happy and that makes me very happy at the same time. When I play with this team [at Anfield]it will definitely be fun. I find it exciting to play here for Liverpool, but as an opponent it is difficult.”
However, after one season and 28 games, the Italian had scored just four goals in all competitions. With £16 million spent on the then 24-year-old never recouped, he would go on loan again to AC Milan before leaving for Nice on a free transfer in 2016.
Although this story would be considered the worst move of his career, the one positive thing from his time on Merseyside remained the fans who once booed the striker but welcomed him so warmly to Liverpool.
“Going to Liverpool was the worst decision of my life,” Balotelli later admitted to Canal Plus. “Apart from the fantastic fans and some players with whom I have an excellent relationship, I didn't like the club.
“I had two coaches at Liverpool, [Brendan] Rodgers and [Jurgen] Klopp for a while, I didn't like their methods and their personality. I never really felt comfortable there. I don't look like Zlatan at all [Ibrahimovic]For example.
“You could face Zlatan with lions, and he would still be calm. If you surround him with good people, he will still be calm. That's the way he is. But I need to be more relaxed and have an environment that works for me .” “
Balotelli, 34, now plays for Italian side Genoa, with his two former England sides set to clash later today (December 1), promising title implications.
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