Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Mario Balotelli is “spot on” to label him as the worst coach of his career.
Balotelli is now thriving with Nice, but asked to name the worst coach of his career by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport he chose Rodgers, describing his relationship with the Northern Irishman as a “disaster.”
The Italian striker was bought by a Liverpool committee and joined in August 2014 from AC Milan to replace Barcelona-bound Luis Suarez.
He managed just one Premier League goal in his time at the club, but rather than refute Balotelli’s claim or attribute blame Rodgers admitted that he struggled to connect with him.
“He was probably absolutely spot on. I just couldn’t really connect with Mario,” the Celtic boss told talkSPORT.
“He was one that came in very late in the window. It was a gamble taken from a club perspective. It was one where, he’s a big talent, he’ll come in and develop, he’s got all the tools.
“In all fairness, I just find it very difficult to connect with Mario. On the field, he tried his best. But yeah, it certainly wasn’t something that worked out as everyone would like.
“If you sit with him in the office, the guy’s a good fella, a good guy. If he could ever match that intensity with his talent, then he’d be one of the best players in the world.
“On the field, it was something that never worked out. That season was difficult for us.
“But now I hope he’s got a club, that might be a final chance over in France. But hopefully it can work out for him.”
After a season on loan with AC Milan, Balotelli joined Nice on a permanent deal in the summer, and now away from Merseyside he appears to be rediscovering his form.
The 26-year-old has scored six goals in just five Ligue 1 matches this season for Lucien Favre’s side to help them top the table after 12 matches.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has also moved on to Celtic where he holds a 10-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
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