Mario Balotelli is willing to be ostracized by Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool because he is due a six-figure bonus if he is still a Liverpool player when the transfer window closes.
That is why Liverpool have been unable to move the Italian striker this summer despite willing to contribute 60 per cent of his wages if Lazio or Sampdoria take him back to Serie A on loan.
The 25-year-old took a drop in wages when he joined from AC Milan last summer, and under terms of the contract Super Mario signed when he made his £16m move, he will bank a ‘loyalty’ bonus as soon as the transfer window closes.
Balotelli endured a miserable first season at Anfield which saw him make just 10 starts and scored only one goal in the Premier League.
Balotelli is now SIXTH in the Anfield striking pecking order and will continue to train away from the first team squad.
That leaves Liverpool in a tough position where they must consider paying up the remaining terms on the player’s contract to get rid of him, a situation they also find themselves in with the intractable Jose Enrique.