Rodgers makes excuses as he explains how Liverpool missed Arsenal star & signed Balotelli

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The great revisionist Brendan Rodgers has attempted to explain away Liverpool‘s signing of Mario Balotelli.

This might make for some uncomfortable reading for Reds fans, so if you’re the feint-hearted type, look away now.

Back in the heady days of 2013, Liverpool were at a crucial moment in their history; inspired by the menacing trident of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez, the Reds almost claimed the Premier League title, only to fall short at the last minute.

Suarez’s exit to Barcelona could have been sidestepped, had the Merseyside giants signed an adequate replacement…say, for example, Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez.

Instead, they went for Balotelli, who’s currently on loan at AC Milan after making nothing in the way of a positive contribution during his first (and to date) only season as a Liverpool player.

Speaking to Sky Sports—as reported by the Mirror—Brodgers has attempted to place the blame elsewhere for one of the most uncomfortable transfer missteps in the club’s recent history.

“I was asked a question and I didn’t think Mario fitted our style of play,” the Northern Irishman began.

“The huge blow for us was we felt we were getting Alexis Sanchez as a like-for-like replacement for Luis Suarez. He was going to be perfect for us. “Come the end of the summer, when we were struggling to bring in the type of player we wanted, the ownership group thought this was a player I could develop.

“When the owners want you to go down that route, and there are no other options, you give it a go.

“Whenever the owners want you to have a go, that’s my job to manage the club. We had to bring in someone.”

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According to Rodgers, it seems, Balotelli was the only possible signing available to Liverpool during the summer of 2013…really?

“Obviously Mario has got big talent. I didn’t think I was going to be any different to other managers he has had trouble with.

“We didn’t really have another option. Do we go with one striker or go with someone who is talented and see if it can work?”

“In the end, it didn’t quite work and it cost us.”

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