Balotelli Must Sign Behaviour Clauses To Join Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has sought assurances from Mario Balotelli he will abide by the club's code of conduct before pressing ahead with a £16 million ($28.5 million) deal for the Italian striker. Having agreed a fee with AC Milan, the Merseyside club held talks with Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola in Liverpool on Thursday, during which strict criteria for concluding the deal were stipulated. It is understood Rodgers and the Anfield hierarchy requested a series of clauses to reflect the professional conduct demanded of all Liverpool players. Balotelli faces disciplinary measures if he falls out of line. Liverpool felt this was necessary given the 24-year-old's track record at previous clubs, where his on-field success was too often overshadowed by his on-field and training ground indiscretions. Although Milan earlier announced the departure of the player, Liverpool said the acceptance of these personal terms would be a key condition of the move. Should the deal go ahead, Rodgers will offer an explanation for an uncharacteristic but swift about-turn when he faces the media at Liverpool's training ground on Friday, having earlier stated "categorically" he would not sign the former Manchester City striker. Balotelli said goodbye to his AC Milan teammates after training. In a brief statement on the AC Milan website, the Italian club said: "Mario Balotelli drove out of Milanello at 1330 after saying goodbye to his teammates and the club's press staff." Balotelli's likely move signals a return to the Premier League where he shone, glowered, delighted and dismayed in equal measure during his time with City from 2011-13. The 24-year-old is seen as a natural successor to another colourful and controversial player, disgraced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who was sold to Barcelona in July. Balotelli signalled the move when he said Thursday was his last day in Italy. "Today is my last day in Milan and I am going to Liverpool," Sky Italia reported him as saying. Raiola was reported to be in England to complete the deal. Rodgers could not have been more emphatic during Liverpool's recent pre-season tour of the US, but in the three weeks since, few alternatives have presented themselves. Liverpool lost confidence that Monaco's Radamal Falcao would ever move to Anfield as he waited on an offer from Real Madrid, while Samuel Eto'o was seen as a back-up. Rodgers' main motivation for changing his stance is the attractiveness of the financial package and what he perceives to be reduced risk in recruiting Balotelli for significantly less than proposed earlier in the summer. The Liverpool manager thought the initial valuation to be in the region of £40 million. At £16 million, Liverpool believe they are signing a potential bargain and feel they are taking a calculated gamble in the hope they will benefit from a more mature striker. Rodgers is also backing himself to succeed where others have failed in man-managing Balotelli. Rather than upset the Liverpool dressing room, he feels his squad is close-knit enough to have a positive influence on the Italian. There will be no attempt to change Balotelli's character, but the intention is to ensure while he is on Liverpool duty, he adheres to club rules. Liverpool will point to the cases of Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who arrived at Anfield with reputations as being difficult to manage, as examples of how this kind of deal can work. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/mario-balotelli-must-sign-behaviour-clauses-to-join-liverpool-20140822-1071dh.html#ixzz3B7ZTTCxT