Balotelli feels the English top flight is home
ITALY striker Mario Balotelli savoured his return to English football last night and revealed his regret at quitting the Premier League for an 18-month spell at AC Milan.
Balotelli watched from the stands as his new club Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by his former team Manchester City, hours after his £16m had been confirmed. The deal came too late for him to make his Reds debut at the Etihad Stadium, but the 24-year-old is eager to resume his incident-packed relationship with the English game.
“I’m happy to be back because I left England and it was a mistake,” he said. “I wanted to go to Italy but realised it was a mistake. English football is generally better. English football is beautiful.”
Balotelli’s signing takes Liverpool’s summer spending to around £130m and while the Italian has not always enjoyed strutting his stuff at Anfield – he was sent off just 18 minutes into a substitute appearance in 2011 – the Reds newcomer is determined to set that particular record straight.
“I didn’t enjoy playing at Anfield as an opposing player but when I play with this team, it’s going to be nice for sure,” he added. “To play here for Liverpool excites me.”