Mario Balotelli’s Liverpool reign of impassive, ineffective terror is over

Hapless, hopeless chairman the world over are giving thanks to the Chinese Super League.

China means business. Football business. While the MLS whittles about with has-beens and could-be's, the Chinese are flinging wads of Yen at any decent footballer they can think, dream or scheme of. Manchester United have been reportedly contacted by one CSL side with a bid of £27m for their flagging, 30-year-old captain. Ed Woodward would be forgiven for Googling 'tranquilizers', 'next flight to Shanghai' and 'wooden crates'. And now salvation has appeared for Liverpool after their gamble-turned-crap-reality Mario Balotelli edges closer to the Anfield exit door. Balotelli was signed for £16m by Liverpool in 2014 and paid the club back with 28 outings, four goals, a few appearances on Jose Enrique's Instagram account and multiple images of himself shopping, driving or trying out hover boards in his back garden. The Italian is currently on loan at AC Milan but impressing and fooling nobody from the Rossoneri. There has been firm interest in Balotelli from both Turkey and the lucrative Chinese Super League. So much interest, in fact, that just about every UK media outlet is declaring that Mario Balotelli has indeed played his last game as a Liverpool employee. In even better news, Liverpool should be able to recoup most of their initial transfer outlay.