“Never seen him do anything” – Everton legend insists he would not sign Liverpool target Mario Balotelli
Former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall has admitted that he would not sign Liverpool target Mario Balotelli “in a million years” and expressed doubts as to whether the striker will be a success for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The enigmatic forward is close to completing a £16 million move from AC Milan to the red half of Merseyside and, as ever, has divided opinion ahead of his imminent return to Premier League football.
Liverpool set to sign Mario Balotelli after medical is completed
On his day the 24-year-old is virtually unplayable but Southall is adamant that he is not worthy of the excitement that his proposed move has sparked and questioned the Italian’s temperament.
“I’ve never seen him do anything that has made me go ‘wow’. If he’s worth £16million, then I’m still worth about £4million.
“He is going to chip in with about 10 goals if they are lucky and if things go well. It is a risk taking him there. He could come back and the first two or three games be brilliant, but lose interest,” Southall insisted.
“It doesn’t look like he is their type of player. I may be wrong but, if it was me, I would never sign him in a million years,” he added.
Although it is obvious that Balotelli does not always turn up to suggest that he does not possess the wow factor is odd; Southall must have missed the European Championship semi-final in 2012 when Balotelli scored two goals to secure the Azzurri’s place in the final courtesy of a 2-1 win, the second of which was a stunning thunderous strike.
However, having played for several clubs including Manchester City and both Milan outfits, Balotelli remains unsettled following a number of controversial incidents that have blighted his career and his signing undoubtedly represents a risk.
But Southall is adamant that it is one the Anfield side should not take and insisted that Balotelli will not be able to fill the void left behind by the departed Luis Suarez.
“He doesn’t put the work in he should. How many managers have said he has the potential to be one of the best in the world. Well, it’s about time he started showing it.
“The amount of work Suarez got through last year was incredible and if they are looking for him to do the same, forget about it,” claimed the Welshman.
If the gamble pays off, however, then Liverpool will have a real asset on their hands who could help fire them towards silverware this season
