LONDON: Mario Balotelli admitted he was glad to be back in the Premier League after the controversial Italy striker completed his $26.5m move to Liverpool yesterday.
Balotelli left England in January 2013 after a series of problems on and off the field prompted Manchester City to sell him to AC Milan.
The 24-year-old had grown weary of his reputation as a bad-boy and believed a return home to Italy, where he had previously starred for Inter Milan, would get his career back on track.
But he endured a difficult spell with Milan and was subjected to racial abuse from opposing fans.
After sealing his switch to Anfield on a three-year £90,000-a-week contract, which includes an option for a further year’s extension, Balotelli conceded he had been wrong to ever leave England.
“I’m happy to be back because I left England and it was a mistake. I wanted to go to Italy but I realised it was a mistake,” Balotelli told Liverpool’s website.
“English football is generally better. English football is beautiful.”
With his future now lying on Merseyside, Balotelli, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, has ambitions of repeating that feat with Liverpool on the Reds’ return to Europe’s elite club competition this season.
“I want to win another Champions League for sure, because the Champions League wasn’t all mine, I was in a team,” he said.
“I always start a competition wanting to win it. I want to take this team to the Champions League.”
Balotelli suffered a hostile reception from Liverpool fans during his visits to Anfield while with City, but he has already been given a warm welcome by supporters who gathered outside the club’s training ground to catch a glimpse of the striker.
“I didn’t expect it (the warm reception) because whenever I played against Liverpool, the fans weren’t nice with me but that’s normal — it’s football!” Balotelli said.
“Now that I play for Liverpool, I can see the expectation in people. They’re very happy and that makes me very happy at the same time.
“To play here for Liverpool excites me, but if you’re an opponent it’s difficult.
“Liverpool are one of the best teams here in England. The football is very good here. It’s a great team with young players, and that’s why I came here.”
Balotelli was not eligible to feature against his old club Manchester City in yesterday’s Premier League clash, but he could travel to Manchester to watch the match after completing a one-on-one training session with the Reds’ head of conditioning and fitness Ryland Morgans at the club’s Melwood base.
AFP
