Boss: I'm excited to work with Balotelli
Brendan Rodgers cannot wait to begin working with new Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli after the Italian international completed his transfer from AC Milan earlier today.
The 24-year-old was in attendance at the Etihad Stadium tonight, the home of former employers Manchester City, to watch his new team in action, although the result proved unfavourable.
Three clinical goals by the hosts earned the reigning Barclays Premier League champions a 3-1 result over Rodgers' men, who grabbed a consolation when Rickie Lambert forced an own goal by Pablo Zabaleta.
Balotelli's switch to the Reds had been confirmed three hours before kick-off, so once the final whistle had blown, reporters at Rodgers' post-match press conference were keen to talk about the club's new No.45.
The Northern Irishman reiterated his belief that Liverpool is the ideal place for the striker to hone his natural talents and shared his excitement about coaching his latest recruit at Melwood.
"There's excitement about him coming in," the boss explained. "As a coach, I'm really looking forward to working with him.
"One thing he doesn't lack is confidence; he's got that self-belief and football arrogance when he's on the field. All of the big teams and best teams have that.
"Hopefully he can contribute to what we are doing. We know he is a football talent and he knows that he is very much part of a team.
"There are no big egos in our squad, this is a group that has been successful, improved and got to the Champions League in the last couple of years because they are a team. He knows he needs to fit into that."
Balotelli registered 30 goals in 54 appearances during his 18 months as a Milan player, while his international tally shows 13 strikes in 33 run-outs on the world stage.
He will now link up with a group that plundered no fewer than 101 efforts in the Premier League last season, and Rodgers is pleased to have bolstered his attacking options.
The manager continued: "With the market to get someone in of that quality, the deal was very good. He is a world-class talent and it's an area we needed to strengthen.
"We can bring him in and hopefully improve him as a player and help him mature as a young man. There's no doubt about his football talent and I think he can do very well for us.
"I've been very encouraged by the man himself, he is very honest. He has already sampled how we work as a team and a club."