Liverpool made a “major mistake” signing Mario Balotelli, says Jamie Carragher.
The 25-year-old is on the verge of sealing a loan switch back to AC Milan, a year after leaving the Italian giants for Liverpool.
Balotelli mustered just one goal in 16 league appearances for Liverpool last season and Carragher says the Italy international’s signing has proved to be a glaring error on the part of everyone at his former club.
“The Balotelli one was a major mistake from the whole club, not just Brendan Rodgers but the transfer committee in bringing him in,” Carragher said after Liverpool’s goalless draw at Arsenal on Monday Night Football.
“The quicker he is moved on (the better). They have Benteke and Sturridge coming back. I still can’t believe that they signed him. He hasn’t worked out and he has to move on.
“He is kidding some coaches if he gets a move to AC Milan.”
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry says Balotelli never looked like a Liverpool player and needs to move on in order to kick-start his career.
“We didn’t see enough of him,” Henry said.
“I don’t think he was a Liverpool player, he didn’t look like a Liverpool player for me and as soon as they got him I didn’t think he was a player the club was going to like.
“It is good for him if he can go to Milan and start his career, because for me it still hasn’t started.”
But fellow Sky Sports football pundit Gary Neville is sceptical about whether the flamboyant former Inter and Manchester City striker will ever fulfil his potential.
“Is he ever going to change? There isn’t a great deal of evidence to suggest he will,” Neville said.
“It’s impossible to do what he does on a football pitch, he doesn’t work hard enough, he doesn’t move.”
