Italian journalist, Mario Sconcerti, once said of Mario Balotelli that he maintains 'the strange talent of making everyone happy when he arrives and even happier when he leaves'. Where does that leave AC Milan then?
Over the past couple of weeks, Mario Balotelli's situation was looking bleak (for Liverpool at least). A loyalty bonus that threatened to keep him at Anfield and the prospect that no one really wanted him anyway. Reports suggested that Liverpool were willing to pay up to 70% of his wages to get him out of the way on a season long loan deal. Sampdoria and Lazio were touted but it began to look increasingly unlikely that there'd be anyone to take.
Step forward the white knights of AC Milan and their CEO Adriano Galliani. The sleeping giants of Italian football were delighted to get rid of him for £16 million last season and now Galliani has confirmed that they're looking to bring him back to the San Siro.
There are negotiations with Liverpool for a loan, but we have not reached an agreement on wages. We want a loan with a portion of the wages paid by us and another portion by Liverpool.
Spending £16 million on an player and then sending him back from where he came one year later, for nothing, sounds like awful business. However, considering just how much Brendan Rodgers wants Balotelli out of Anfield, it may be one of the best things Liverpool will do this transfer window.
