Balotelli’s agent labels Jurgen Klopp a ‘piece of s**t’

Mario Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, has reportedly labelled Jurgen Klopp “a piece of s**t* for the way he treat the Italian forward this summer.

Balotelli finally left Liverpool on a permanent deal on deadline day, joining French side Nice on a free transfer.

Having scored just one league goal for AC Milan while on loan last season, they rejected the deal sign the forward on a permanent deal, meaning Balotelli landed back on Merseyside in pre-season.

But clearly not featuring in Klopp’s plans, Balotelli was training with the under-23s while the first-team squad toured America.

“Mario has been exemplary. He never complained about training alone. To say that it was wrong of Klopp would be an understatement. He was a piece of s*** about it,” Raiola is quoted saying.

“In the end, the higher-ups at Liverpool admitted that Klopp was wrong (to send Balotelli to train with the reserves),” he apparently claimed.

He also claims Klopp is not a good coach for the way he isolated Balotelli: “I’m not trying to judge him as a coach – although, for me, he’s not a good coach – but he didn’t understand that Balotelli is, whatever else, a person.”

Klopp, speaking before his move to Nice, praised Balotelli, saying the 26-year-old can still be a world class talent.

“We want Mario to become the player he was before his injury. The talent is still there – no doubt about it,” Klopp said.

“When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff (in training), he’s been world class.

“But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position so it’s clear we need a solution.

“There will be a club around who would be happy to have a new Mario Balotelli if you like.

“I have spoken clearly to the player about that. I know we can’t talk about a lot of things because one agent says ‘we want to stay’, and another says ‘we have had 10 offers so we have to leave’.

“But in this case it’s obvious. It’s now time to make decisions and I try to help Mario to get in the best shape he can be in and we will see what happens.”

Balotelli wasn’t the only player left on Merseyside while the club toured the USA, with Luis Alberto also left out of the squad with his future also being away from Anfield.