Brendan Rodgers Finally Reveals: "I Never Wanted to Sign Balotelli, My Choice Was Alexis Sanchez"

While Liverpool struggles to find the right player to sign this transfer market, former boss, Brendan Rodgers has spoken regarding past signings at the club. The former manager has stated that he did not have the last word on signing players.

Rodgers spoke about his time at Liverpool for the first time since being sacked in October. As a guest on Sky Goals, he explained how signing Balotelli was more of owners’ choice rather than his. The directors at the club signed the Italy international with the hope of turning a £16 million striker into a £50 million sensation.

During his reign at Liverpool, Rodgers never stated his lack of power over the final verdict over transfer decisions, however, he had a different perspective on the show. He stated that the decision to sign Balotelli was reached by Fenway Sports Group.

Speaking with Sky Goals, he said, “What we wanted and what we needed was a player who could really press at the top end of the field. It wasn’t just a goal scorer we were after. I felt Mario was someone who wouldn’t work for us. But come the end of the summer, we were struggling to get someone who could do the role we wanted. I think the ownership group thought that this could be a player I could develop.”

Balotelli signed for Liverpool from AC Milan in August 2014 at a price of £16 million. During his time at Anfield, he made a total of 28 appearances and managed to score only four goals. Having failed to make an impact at the club, he returned to AC Milan on loan last summer.

Rodgers also disclosed his regrets over missing out on Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez and Tottenham youngster Dele Alli. Rodgers was hoping to swap Luis Suarez for Alexis Sanchez when the Uruguay international decided to move to Barcelona. However, Sanchez chose to join Arsenal over Liverpool.

Alli on the other hand was lost to Tottenham, and Rodgers expressed his disappointment over failing to sign the player from MK Dons. ‘He wanted to come to Liverpool,’ Rodgers added. ‘We thought we had him in. Then the deal didn’t get done between the clubs and eventually he went to Tottenham, which was frustrating and disappointing.’