Balotelli Shirt Swap

              For Liverpool’s transfers this summer, many believe that they were not successful, and this is shown by their start to the season. One part of these transfers was the decision to bring in striker Mario Balotelli. Balotelli is known for his talent and ability to score and create when he puts in the effort and keeps his attitude in check, but he is equally known for his behavior issues. This trade-off is the reason that many feel that it was a bad idea to take on Balotelli regardless of the price. So far this season, behavior hasn’t been a real issue for Balotelli, but attitude and effort have overshadowed any good he has done for Liverpool to date.

            Having scored just one goal so far in a Liverpool jersey, he has not been successful by the standards of a striker. Missing wide-open nets and looking all around sluggish and uninspiring, Balotelli is making some of his critics correct. The major headline regarding Liverpool these days also includes Balotelli, yet again on the wrong side of the news. At halftime when down 3-0 to Real Madrid, Balotelli and Real Madrid’s Pepe swapped shirts, angering fans and managers. Many feel that Balotelli should have been focused on how to come back into the game ready to make a difference rather than getting a souvenir from an opponent, especially an opponent beating his team by three points. While I feel that there was nothing inherently wrong with Balotelli swapping shirts with the opposition, it was neither the time nor the place to do it. I agree that it should not have been done going into halftime and that Balotelli’s mind should have been elsewhere. If he truly wanted to swap shirts with Pepe, it should’ve been done after the game and outside of the demanding nature of the game.

             Also, I think that the entire event should not have been made a big deal by the media and especially by coaches. After the game, the Liverpool manager stated that he would deal with Balotelli and discipline him as needed, which I feel is very extreme and just adds to the pressure of the situation. Although Balotelli was in the wrong, this should not have become a big deal, and the coaches should have reinforced that idea by playing it all off and not furthering the problem by disciplining him.