“I Asked For Alexis Sanchez But I Got Balotelli” – Ex Liverpool Manager Rodgers

Speaking to Sky Sports, Rodgers has suggested that he was forced by Liverpool’s owners to buy Balotelli after identifying Alexis Sanchez as the best replacement for the departed Luis Suarez.

Liverpool signed Balotelli from AC Milan for £16 million in 2014, but the Italian endured an unsuccessful season at Anfield before returning to Italy on loan for this campaign.

“When we were struggling to get in the type of player we wanted for that role, the ownership thought this (Balotelli) was a player I could maybe develop,” Rodgers said.

“They thought this is a £50 million player that they can bring in for 16 million, and I can maybe develop him how I developed a few of the other players.

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

“The huge blow for us was that we felt we could get Alexis Sanchez,” Rodgers said.

“We thought he was the like-for-like replacement, we thought he would be perfect for us how he pressed the game, how aggressive he was in his quality.

“We felt with Luis gone, we would get Sanchez in, it would be a smooth transition into the team.”