‘He’s not a good coach’
Mario Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, has branded Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a ‘piece of s**t’ and a bad coach after his client finally managed to get a move away from Anfield.
Balotelli joined Liverpool in a ÂŁ16million deal in August 2014 but endured a nightmare spell on Merseyside. He was sent out on loan to AC Milan last season, and secured a free transfer to Nice on Deadline Day this summer.
Klopp made it clear to Balotelli that he would not be part of his plans during a heart-to-heart discussion this summer, but praised the 26-year-old’s application since returning to Melwood.
Despite the genial manner of his departure, Raiola has added acrimony to the situation, attacking the German coach for how he treated his client, as well as questioning his coaching skills.
“In the end, the higher-ups at Liverpool admitted that Klopp was wrong (to send Balotelli to train with the reserves),” the agent reportedly said.
“I’m not trying to judge him as a coach – although, for me, he’s not a good coach – but he didn’t understand that Balotelli is, whatever else, a person.
“Mario has been exemplary. He never complained about training alone. To say that it was wrong of Klopp would be an understatement. He was a piece of s*** about it.”
Raiola is one of the game’s most notorious agents, dealing with global stars such as Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Blaise Matuidi and Romelu Lukaku.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
