Tuesday, 23rd September, 2014
QPR midfielder Joey Barton has hit out at Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, dubbing the Italian "the biggest myth in world football".
Liverpool lavished £16m to sign Balotelli from AC Milan earlier this summer in the hope that the former Manchester City man can help to replace the goals lost with the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
Balotelli has already scored for Liverpool, finding the back of the net in the club's 2-1 Champions League win over Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets Razgrad.
But for Barton, Balotelli's reputation far outstrips his talent.
Barton tweeted: "Balotelli? He is the biggest myth in world football the fella. Fair play to him he's had everyones trolleys [sic] down…
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"People now realising just how good Luis Suarez was. I mean how do you replace that quality? Certainly not with MB. He does take a mean peno!"
Balotelli made his Liverpool debut away at Tottenham Hotspur on 31st August, having seen his transfer completed ahead of the closure of the transfer window.
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