Mancini: Why Balotelli can be better than Torres
Table of Contents
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes new signing Mario Balotelli has has the potential to become better than Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
Torres decided to stay at Liverpool despite the club’s failure to reach the Champions League and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ownership at Anfield.
Having failed to lure Torres from Merseyside, Mancini instead chose to recruit Balotelli from his former club Inter Milan earlier this month.
And he believes the £22.5 million he paid Inter for the 20-year-old will prove to be much better value for money.
Speaking ahead of Monday's Premier League clash with Liverpool, Mancini said: "In my view, Balotelli can be as good as Torres and even better.
"That's because Torres can play only as a striker whereas Balotelli can play as a striker, a secondary striker, or a winger. He has a different attitude from Torres like that.
"Torres is a fantastic striker and it was difficult for Liverpool to sell him because he's such an important player for them, but we got Balotelli instead and this is good for us.
"He's quick, strong in the air, good technique, young. He has everything you need to be the best."
The Italian tactician added: "I saw him four years ago when I was at Inter. He was 16 or 18. It was the last five games of the Serie A championship.
"We had (Zlatan) Ibrahimović injured and we played Mario inside and he played like someone who was 30 years old.
"That's because he has good technique. He has everything."
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
Torres decided to stay at Liverpool despite the club’s failure to reach the Champions League and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ownership at Anfield.
Having failed to lure Torres from Merseyside, Mancini instead chose to recruit Balotelli from his former club Inter Milan earlier this month.
And he believes the £22.5 million he paid Inter for the 20-year-old will prove to be much better value for money.
Speaking ahead of Monday's Premier League clash with Liverpool, Mancini said: "In my view, Balotelli can be as good as Torres and even better.
"That's because Torres can play only as a striker whereas Balotelli can play as a striker, a secondary striker, or a winger. He has a different attitude from Torres like that.
"Torres is a fantastic striker and it was difficult for Liverpool to sell him because he's such an important player for them, but we got Balotelli instead and this is good for us.
"He's quick, strong in the air, good technique, young. He has everything you need to be the best."
The Italian tactician added: "I saw him four years ago when I was at Inter. He was 16 or 18. It was the last five games of the Serie A championship.
"We had (Zlatan) Ibrahimović injured and we played Mario inside and he played like someone who was 30 years old.
"That's because he has good technique. He has everything."
Don't forget to check us out on Twitter and Facebook for more soccer updates!
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
Post a Comment