Balotelli failed to rekindle his career with Liverpool, making only 22 appearances in all competitions and scoring only two goals after his €20 million move from AC Milan last summer. Maddock reports that Lazio will only be able to pay 30 per cent of Balotelli’s current £80,000-a-week salary, meaning the Reds will have to pick up the slack should Balotelli refuse a pay cut. Here’s a look at the list of “ifs”, which include Lazio qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League and some other financial triggers.
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Any proposed deal is likely to consist of a £1.5m loan fee, with view to a permanent £12.5m transfer at the end of next season.
Brendan Rodgers was always taking something of a risk by signing Balotelli, the 24-year-old having a reputation for being a “troubled” individual [Telegraph], but even the Northern Irish boss would have been shocked at just how little the former Manchester City man offered in the final third since moving to Anfield.
Lazio reportedly already has an offer to bring in Balotelli on loan.
Should Liverpool accept Lazio’s loan offer in order to get rid of Balotelli?
This would represent a potentially palatable loss for Liverpool, who parted with £16 million to sign the forward last summer [BBC Sport].
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Balotelli has been linked with a cut-price move back to Serie A, with Sampdoria thought to be interested. The Old Trafford club are one of just a handful of teams that Lazio could be paired with in this week’s Champions League draw.
