Jamie Carragher has clearly never been a fan of Mario Balotelli. The Liverpool legend made a career of being passionate on the pitch and now, in his role with Sky Sports, equally passionate off it. Given the all-action way in which he played during his career, it's hardly surprising to learn that Carragher isn't particularly a fan of Mario Balotelli.
Earlier this year, Carragher spoke at his disbelief that Liverpool signed a player that he "can't remember ever having a good game" so you can imagine his relief when Liverpool let the striker depart from Anfield to French club Nice on a free transfer.
So delighted, was he in fact, that he took to Twitter to aim a jab at the Italian. And this has ignited a Twitter war which looks like it may rage on for quite a while.
Balotelli on a free is still paying over the odds by Nice.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) August 31, 2016
Balotelli has finally responded online to Carragher, telling him that he was a "bad player" but a "wonderful hater". Not only that, Balo's agent Mino Raiola has now also taken the bait and hit out at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, the manager who sanctioned his client's free transfer to Ligue 1, calling the German a "piece of shit".
It remains to be seen if Balotelli will succeed in the French league, but it's interesting to note that Nice was the club which successfully restored the career of Hatem Ben Arfa after his less-than-successful spell in English football. Whether or not the same happens to 'Super Mario' will likely be entirely dependent on how much he applies himself.
Football is littered with talented players who've never had the application or work ethic to fulfill their potential. If he's not careful, we will be adding Mario Balotelli's name to the ever-expanding list of players who could have been world beaters.
Jamie Carragher, bad player, wonderful hater @Carra23 ,who cares. pic.twitter.com/onbY0WUgOc
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) September 3, 2016
