Mario Balotelli's woes just do not seem to end. Since making a £16 million move from Milan this past summer, the new Liverpool striker has failed to fill the boots left behind by Uruguayan ace Luis Suarez when he was sold to Barcelona.
Two goals in all competitions--and still yet to break his duck in the Premier League--have fans, the media, and now even his own coach throwing their hands up in frustration.
To make matters worse, the 24-year-old Italian international, who now finds himself on the fringes of the Azzurri, still continues to court trouble off the pitch. "Super Mario" was recently suspended after the Football Association felt that this social media post was offensive, with some reacting angrily to its apparent "anti-Semitic" nature:
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After serving out his ban and recovering from a groin problem, he is all set to go in Liverpool's Boxing Day clash with Burnley. However, although the Reds are currently struggling and their forwards, in particular fellow new signing Rickie Lambert and fringe player Fabio Borini have been unimpressive, Brendan Rodgers is not celebrating Balotelli's return to the fold per se.
In fact, with the Italian's future at Anfield constantly the subject of speculation, when asked specifically about his new player being available, Rodgers, who had previously defended the enigmatic striker, replied as such:
"The most important thing is Mario is available after his ban. It adds another player to our squad and another player who is available, especially with Fabio Borini unavailable [due to suspension]," he stated in his pre-match press conference.
Balotelli's last Premier League appearance was on November 8th in the Reds' 2-1 loss to Chelsea
However, when asked about Balotelli's role within the team, and how and if he fits into their style of play, this is where things get perhaps a bit more interesting.
"I think we have seen that [the 3-4-3] system really does not suit his game," he noted.
"Having worked with Mario during the time he's been here, we have seen that he is a player who is better in and around the box, and that level of intensity and pressing is not a part of his game.
"But you try to get the best out of the players that you have, and the qualities that they have, so that is something that we will focus on."
While some would not find this to be an out-and-out criticism of the striker, it is still noteworthy and will definitely set some tongues wagging as the January transfer window opens next week.
Moreover, given that Liverpool are struggling to stay even in the top half of the Premier League table, it is definitely a case where all hands on deck are needed, which means that even the attackers would have to press when the team loses the ball.
Hence, as Balotelli's playing style is not conducive to that, then the question becomes as to whether he will ever modify his game to suit his new team's modus operandi--or, if as reports constantly claim, that he is set to make a quick exit from England to again try his luck elsewhere.
