Liverpool to axe Balotelli
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Mario Balotelli’s career at Liverpool is over.
|||London - Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Mario Balotelli’s career at Liverpool is over.
Balotelli has been training at Melwood since July 2 but Klopp did not include him for the friendly at Tranmere last Friday and will not select him for any further matches.
Both parties have agreed he needs to find a new club urgently to relaunch his stalled career.‘Since he has been back, he’s been a good guy and I can’t say anything different,’ said Klopp, who is continuing to pursue the signing of Leicester left back Ben Chilwell.
‘It’s not that he’s come back and said, “Who’s the boss? I’m the boss! No, sorry, it’s you” - it’s not been that at all. Everything’s been good, it’s all OK.
‘Now we will do everything we can to get him fit.Then it will not be a situation for Mario - and I have spoken to him about this.
‘We want him to become the player he was before his injury. The talent is still there. When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff he’s been world class. But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position.
‘So it’s clear we need a solution. It’s now time to make decisions and I try to help Mario get in the best shape he can be in and we will see what happens.’
Meanwhile, Christian Benteke’s proposed sale is in jeopardy. Crystal Palace and West Ham are interested but Liverpool’s attempt to recoup the £32.5million they spent on the striker 12 months ago is threatening to scupper any move, particularly given he earns £120 000 per week at Liverpool.
One player leaving the club is Martin Skrtel, who last night completed a £5.5million move to Fenerbahce.
Meanwhile, defender Mamadou Sakho’s career remains on hold due to injury. The France international, who is considering his legal options after Uefa cleared him of violating anti-drug laws last Thursday, has been receiving treatment on an achilles problem, and although it does not require surgery, he will not feature at Arsenalon August 14.
Sakho was unable to play in the Europa League final and Euro 2016 when Uefa imposed a 30-day ban after a fat-burning substance was found in a sample given after a Europa League game against Manchester United on March 17.
Klopp said: ‘When he had his “break” he used the time to have treatment and that means another three or four weeks before he can train again.’
Daily Mail