The England forward left for Manchester City under a cloud after a bitter transfer saga but his old team-mate offers support after his first goal for Manuel Pellegrini’s side
Mario Balotelli has risked angering the Liverpool fanbase by tweeting praise for Raheem Sterling after his goalscoring debut for Manchester City.
The England international finally completed a £49 million move to the Etihad Stadium earlier in July after a protracted and bad-tempered transfer saga, having refused to sign a new contract at Anfield.
Sterling has drawn a great deal of abuse from Liverpool supporters as a result of his pursuit of the switch and, after he netted just three minutes into his first pre-season appearance for his new club on Tuesday, his now-former colleague offered some support.
Well done @sterling31 ! Best answer . Keep it up.
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) July 21, 2015
Balotelli’s comments quickly prompted a swarm of angry replies and he moved quickly to insist that he was not trying to criticise his own team’s supporters but called for an end to the bitterness over Sterling’s departure.
Liverpool fans are amazing but i hope@sterling31 will play at his best because he deserve it.He s a good guy young and talented…..
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) July 21, 2015
….support him Like you always did .He gave everything to this club and respect it so im sad to see this.YNWA ,Liverpool is a family ALWAYS
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) July 21, 2015
Balotelli’s own future at Anfield is in doubt after he struggled in his first season with the Reds in 2014-15, with Danny Ings and Divock Origi among the new recruits up front this summer.