Liverpool have gone to crazy lengths to keep Balotelli on the straight and narrow following his summer move.
Liverpool have appointed a minder to keep an eye on new striker Mario Balotelli 24 hours a day, report the Mirror, so keen are the Merseyside club to avoid any repeat of the shenanigans off-the-field which marred Balotelli’s spell with former club Manchester City in the Premier League.
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Balotelli has so far been on his best behaviour off-the-field since arriving at Anfield, although both supporters and manager Brendan Rodgers seem to be growing frustrated with his lack of impact in matches as the Reds flounder at the start of the new campaign.
According to this report, Balotelli’s club-appointed minder keeps an eye on the striker wherever he goes and even stays at the player’s rented mansion in the North of the city.
The minder even travels to games on the team coach with Balotelli, so keen are Liverpool to ensure that he doesn’t fall foul of the behavioural expectations of manager Brendan Rodgers.
During his time at City, Balotelli’s performance were often overshadowed by his antics away from the pitch, with fireworks being set off in his bathroom before the Manchester derby against United being one of just a few examples of the Italian’s eccentric behaviour, which continued when he joined AC Milan.