Former Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli might not have set the world on fire when playing for the Reds but a new reveal from his contract states that he was in line for a £1m bonus as long as he avoided getting sent off thrice in a season.
Balotelli had joined the Reds from AC Milan in 2014 for a fee of £16m but struggled under Brendan Rodgers and was sent out on loan to Milan the next season. Jurgen Klopp also did not keep the Italian striker and he was sold to Nice at the start of this campaign.
The former Inter and AC Milan star did have a history of being a bit of a hothead and probably that was the reason why this particular clause was inserted into his Liverpool contract. Football Leaks had reported about this deal and the Sunday Times published an extract from Balo’s contract that stated he needed to avoid getting three red cards in a season to get the bonus.
“If during each season of the term of this contract the player is not dismissed from the field of play on three or more occasions for violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures and/or for dissent by word or action… then on the 30th June at the end of each season he shall receive a bonus payment of £1million”.
Balo never got red carded in his brief Liverpool career and only was booked five bookings in the Premier League. He was also in line to get another bonus should he has crossed five goals in the Premier League or Champions League with a £50,000 per goal bonus.
Unfortunately for the Italian, he only managed four goals in his entire Liverpool career but he has found a new lease on life at Nice.
Top of the French league
The French club is on top of Ligue 1 ahead of Monaco and Paris-Saint Germain. Balotelli too has been on fire this season and has scored seven goals in all competitions. The Italian striker has had a pop at both Klopp and Rodgers during his time in France and has even asked Mamadou Sakho to join him at the club as the French defender does not have a future at Liverpool.
It is a good thing that Balotelli has found his shooting boots again in France and hopefully, it should lead him to get back to the Italian national side. There is a lot of talent in Balo and if the manager does get him playing well, there is no stopping him in most situations. Unfortunately for Liverpool, they just could not get the best of a man that could have done a lot more at Merseyside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A2Dxugornc
