• Premier League

Rodgers helping Balotelli to grow at Liverpool - agent

ESPN staff
March 6, 2015
Rodgers proving the critics wrong?

Brendan Rodgers is pushing Mario Balotelli further than anyone has before in his career, according to the Liverpool striker's agent.

Balotelli, 24, has worked under world-class managers such as Jose Mourinho and Roberto Mancini but it appears Rodgers is the one who has pushed the Italy international furthest out of his comfort zone.

"Right now, I think Mario has a very interesting development for his career," Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola told French radio station RMC. "He has found a coach who asks of him things that had never been requested of him until now, including the discipline of running without the ball.

"This allows him to grow as a person and as a football player. He'll come out even stronger. He is proud of his team [Liverpool] and that is the most important."

Balotelli has made an underwhelming start to his Anfield career after a £16 million move from AC Milan in the summer.

He has started only once since November 8 - in the Europa League exit to Besiktas last week - and has scored only four goals, all in different competitions, and just one in the Premier League.

Having been an unused substitute for the second successive match Balotelli, after the midweek win over Burnley, posted a cryptic message on Instagram, claiming someone is not a fan of his.

He wrote: "Someone doesn't like me but differently [sic] of what they say about me I'm a team player and I'm so proud of my team, of this win and of these fans! Let's keep going. Bravi Ragazzi!!! YNWA !!!"

Brendan Rodgers signed Mario Balotelli for £16 million last summer © Getty Images
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