When reports surfaced in Italy on Wednesday that AC Milan were considering an offer for Mario Balotelli from Premier League side Liverpool vice-president Adriano Galliani quickly dismissed the claims as nothing more than mere rumours, yet within 24 hours the striker had cleared his Milanello locker and said his goodbyes.
The magnitude of positive comments on social media within that short space of time would indicate that many Liverpool fans were more than happy the man known as much for his off-pitch exploits as goalscoring was heading to Merseyside to replace another similarly character flawed genius Luis Suarez.
However, with a distinctly different playing style to the dynamic Uruguayan, it raised the question of just how the 24-year-old fits into Brendan Rodgers playing philosophy, particularly after rejecting any idea that record signing Andy Carroll could succeed at Anfield.
With the club surpassing all expectations to finish runners-up to the Italian’s former club Manchester City last season his wisdom looked justified, focusing on high pressing and lightening quick counter-attacking led by Suarez and Raheem Sterling, often either side of Daniel Sturridge.
Therefore, appearing a motionless and lonely figure as the Azzurri exited the World Cup has raised questions whether Balotelli has the work ethic to fit in and become a fundamental part of the Liverpool first-team.
In a central role, the only one in which the Italian appears to suit, Sturridge has thrived, hitting 32 goals in 44 league appearances, leading to concerns that his arrival will see the England man pushed wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation.
However, those that have had the pleasure of watching Liverpool regularly over the last 18 months will attest to the fluidity at which the attackers change position, similar in a way to the recent success of the ‘false nine’ system by Spain and Germany.
In fact the flexibility of the side as an overall attacking unit misrepresented the truth that Sturridge and Suarez worked far more in tandem as a traditional partnership than either formation suggests, in a 4-4-2 diamond set-up.
Sterling and Jordan Henderson providing the width and energy to pressure high while Steven Gerrard and ex-Inter man Philippe Coutinho undertook their respective roles as defensive lynchpin and creative schemer.
Even given the arrivals of Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic the position of permanent partner to Sturridge is yet to be filled, assuming that Rickie Lambert was bought as an apparent upgrade on third-choice Iago Aspas.
The somewhat lack lustre approach of Balotelli in matches, therefore, seems the only question mark over whether he can adapt to the Liverpool style, although with so many other doing the pressing it is not always required of a striker, but this view is not entirely justified and often thrown at him by those that either watch little of him or ignorantly believe players should be constantly on the move at 100 mph.
Admittedly at times last season he looked as though he wanted to be anywhere but the San Siro pitch, cutting a frustrated figure as he watched teammates struggle with even the basic competences expected of a professional football, but will not have that at Liverpool where even those less technically adept fill a vital part in their success within Rodgers intense possession based football.
While he has the ability to drop off and create like Suarez he was almost resigned to doing so with Milan through the inability of others, with an energetic and enthused group of young players around him he will find himself far more likely to be heading in the other direction at Anfield, and it will be with Sturridge beside him, not looking on from the substitutes bench.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
