Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
In a car park? Milan chief's revealing account of Mario Balotelli's Liverpool move
MARIO BALOTELLI was offered guarantees over his role at Milan in a car park, joint-CEO at the San Siro Adriano Galliani has revealed.
Mario Balotelli scored Milan's opener in their 3-2 win over Udinese last night
Balotelli, 25, rejoined the Serie A giants on loan from Liverpool just a year after leaving the club for Anfield in a £16million switch.
But after scoring just four goals in England he headed back to Italy in a surprise move.
And Galliani claims the deal got the full support of Milan's officials and back room staff, despite the international striker's notable reputation.
“The president (Silvio Berlusconi) is pleased with him,” Galliani told Alfredo Pedulla’s website.
“Getting him was my idea, but without the OK from the president, he wouldn’t have come.
"The choice was later endorsed by (coach Sinisa) Mihajlovic, who met Mario in a parking lot at night after the Fiorentina game.
“A love blossomed between the two. Sinisa offered guarantees for Mario, and so he returned to Milanello.”
"Balotelli is back!" - @FinallyMario shows @LFC fans what they're missing with a superb free-kick for @acmilan http://t.co/nLb4N4G0TY
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) September 22, 2015
Balotelli repaid some of the faith shown in him last night with a wonder strike for Milan against Udinese.
It is not known if Liverpool will keep him on their books past next summer, with manager Brendan Rodgers seemingly willing to ditch the player for good.