Thursday, 16th October, 2014



Mario Balotelli has put Steven Gerrard on the same pedestal as Italian midfield legend Andrea Pirlo.

Liverpool captain Gerrard joined the club’s academy when he was just nine and gradually progressed through the ranks to make his senior debut in November 1998 against Blackburn Rovers.




The 34-year-old has made 654 appearances for the Reds and led the side to a Champions League triumph in 2005.

Balotelli, who joined Liverpool this summer from another continental power in the shape of AC Milan, regards the former England captain at the same level as Juventus midfielder Pirlo.
 


The Italian midfielder is a double Champions League winner with Milan and played a crucial role in Juventus’ three back-to-back league title wins. He also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.  

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"I had really not seen much of him before this season, apart from for England, but wow. I think of him as being at the same level as Pirlo", the Italian was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"Vision, technique, but he is powerful as well. Stevie can do anything.

"It's going to be very difficult for the team to find another player like him in the future."

Before signing on the dotted line at boyhood club Liverpool, Gerrard underwent trials at various clubs, including Manchester United.

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