Milan director Umberto Gandini believes that Mario Balotelli hasn’t yet made the transition to being a great player.
The Italy international was sold by the Rossoneri for a cut-price fee this summer to return to the Premier League with Liverpool.
For one of Milan’s directors, the player that was sold is not the player Balotelli can become one day.
Milan director Umberto Gandini believes that Mario Balotelli hasn’t yet made the transition to being a great player.
The Italy international was sold by the Rossoneri for a cut-price fee this summer to return to the Premier League with Liverpool.
For one of Milan’s directors, the player that was sold is not the player Balotelli can become one day.
“Probably Mario has not made the transition yet from being just a fantastic athlete to a great player,” Gandini has commented to CNN this week.
“The expectation was probably bigger [at Milan], and I think also his expectations, and he has not reached the status yet where he can carry the club.
“Until he will do that he won't be able to fulfil his promises.
“His personality? He is much, much better than he is portrayed and his lifestyle was much better than portrayed in England.
“He is a fantastic kid, he is humble, and recognises a lot of values that football has given to him, and life in general.
“I think he loves the fight. He loves to fight with something or somebody – on the pitch, in life. He's always trying to take the stance.
“The more you go after him and provoke him, the more he feels energy and wants to go after it. That may be something he has to learn to control.
“We honestly thought the best for him was to come to Milan and work in an environment in which he was supported very strongly.
“He likes Milan, he loves the team, but then we got to a point when we were looking for a different kind of player and he was looking for a different challenge.
“Liverpool was there for him. I think that Mario like all the other top players wants to play in the Premier League.
“He had his first taste with City, now he is more mature and has the opportunity with Liverpool, an historic club.
“That's the environment where he should succeed, and then obviously, at the end of the day it is down to him. I hope he does fulfil his potential, for him, for Liverpool and for the national team.”