Following Mario Balotelli’s return to Italy with AC Milan from Premier League club Liverpool, Kevin Pogorzelski asks can the Rossoneri give Balotelli the platform to showcase his undoubted talent?
For the clearly talented Mario Balotelli the words ‘last chance’ are unfortunately associated with the Italian striker far more than say ‘title winner’, and as he makes a speedy return to AC Milan those are the words that will make plenty of appearances in the media.
After making the vital assist for Sergio Aguero to clinch Manchester City’s first Premier League title in 2012 the 25-year-old has failed to realise his potential at several clubs, as coaches and fans alike witnessed regular bouts of ill-discipline.
Similar issues have marked his 12 months on Merseyside too, however, it could be argued that the former Inter forward had been fighting a losing battle back in England where he had been branded lazy and problematic almost before arriving.
Unlike his impending Rossoneri return, Balotelli was joining a side, if not manager in Brendan Rodgers, desperate to prove they could cope with the loss of the influential Luis Suarez and prove that a second-place finish in the English Premier League was no mere fluke.
However, after impressing alongside expected long-term partner Daniel Sturridge in a 3-0 win over Tottenham, injury meant the pair were rarely seen on the pitch together again and Liverpool’s form nosedived along with belief in the Italian international.
Yet, with neither Rickie Lambert or Fabio Borini up to task, Balotelli was forced to shoulder the majority of the team’s attacking hopes.
On target as a faltering Liverpool struggled to victory over Ludogorets in the Champions League and showing promise against Chelsea and Everton at Anfield, his inability to replicate the energy of Suarez was harshly criticised by fans desperate for local boy Lambert to be given a chance.
A chance, it should be noted, he was equally unable to take and is now occupying the substitutes bench at West Bromwich Albion.
With the media and some supporters against Balotelli, October brought the moment from which he ultimately failed to recover – swapping shirts with Real Madrid’s Pepe at the interval of a demoralising Champions League defeat – and the writing was on the wall for Mario.
Despite consecutive starts at the beginning of November, a hamstring injury kept him out for a month and he would see just 546 minutes of action – across 14 appearances in all competitions – scoring twice.
However, considering Lambert and Borini between them netted just three times in 51 outings, highlighted how much the whole team struggled as Suarez was winning a treble with Barcelona.
Although that lack of faith should not excuse minimal application at times or questionable leisure pursuits off the pitch, being excluding when you know you are the sides most gifted striker will have been difficult to take.
With Milan splashing out €90 million on new recruits the situation is not dissimilar to the one Balotelli joined last year, however, a dire Serie A campaign for the Milan club last term means expectations are much lower.
Certainly lower than in 2013 when he was expected to carry the Rossoneri’s Champions League qualification hopes almost single handedly.
Given the amount of delight expressed when selling Balotelli to Liverpool for just €20 million last August, it is conveniently forgotten that he delivered at the San Siro with 26 goals in 43 Serie A appearances and was largely sold to balance the books.
Whilst refusing to comment on his International prospects ahead of Euro 2016, it will clearly be an additional incentive as he looks to prove the doubters wrong and an acceptance that hard work is the route to redemption is more than mere lip service.
Given the media persecution suffered during the last 12 months Balotelli should flourish again in more familiar surroundings, however, it remains to be seen whether his supporting cast could be an issue.
Despite the investment in playing staff there was a distinct lack of presence in the Milan midfield as they lost to Fiorentina Sunday, and while new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic acknowledged as much, finding a solution could prove difficult.
Whatever happens though, Milan is a much better environment for the Italian striker to finally be ‘given a chance’ to fulfil his potential, as he arguably was before his previous stint with the club was cut short.
