Mario Balotelli was poised to
move from Milan to Liverpool Thursday after the two clubs agreed
a 20-million-euro fee for the colourful Italy striker.
Sources close to the deal said Milan had reached terms with
the Premier League giants for the transfer.
The former Manchester City Italo-Ghanaian star now just
needs to agree terms with his new club to complete the move to
Anfield, they said.
The forward was waiting for the final word at his home in
Brescia with his brother Enoch, having tried to throw off fans
by leaving his Ferrari at a downtown hotel.
Earlier in the day Balotelli said goodbye to players and
staff at Milan.
The sometimes temperamental Italy striker was all smiles as
he left the Milanello training camp, observers said.
Balotelli, a controversial figure for his on- and
off-field antics, joined Serie A club Milan from City last year.
The centre-forward's oddball behavior has often
grabbed headlines.
In late 2011, he hit headlines with the British media
reporting he had his new Maserati temporarily confiscated by
police.
That same season he had to spend a night in a hotel because
friends started a blaze with fireworks at his home.
Last year he came in for criticism after a Naples mobster
claimed he had jokingly asked to deal drugs in the southern
Italian city.
Last month he posted a picture on Facebook of himself
pointing a gun at the camera, captioned 'Big kiss to the haters'
after he took flack over Italy's early exit from the World Cup.
The former Inter Milan forward has repeatedly been
subjected to racist taunts in Italy and abroad.
He has often reacted with anger, and in one case last year
was handed a 10,000-euro fine for insulting the crowd at a
match in response to taunting.
Milan reportedly want FC Porto's Colombia
striker Jackson Martinez to replace Balotelli, sources at Silvio
Berlusconi's club said Thursday.
Feelers have been put out to the Portuguese champs, they
said.
Balotelli has been unsettled amid lack-lustre performances
for the Rossneri and new coach Filippo Inzaghi made no secret of
his inclination for offloading the sometimes sulky talent, while
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was keen to boost his attacking
options following the departure of Luis Suarez.
Balotelli's valuation soared to around 50 million after he
scored the Azzurri's winner against England in Brazil but it
slumped back after two poor displays as Italy crashed out with
defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay.
New Italy coach Antonio Conte has ditched predecessor
Cesare Prandelli's code of conduct which saw Balotelli dropped
twice, but he has urged Italy's most prominent black sportsman
to "man up" and dust the chip off his shoulder.
Balotelli spent three seasons at Manchester City before
returning to Italy, helping to deliver the FA Cup and Premier
League title in a spell that saw him score 30 goals in 80
appearances.
Despite losing serial biter Suarez to Barcelona, Liverpool
are among the favourites for the Premier League title after
coming close to City last year.
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