Liverpool secure sell-on fee in Balotelli transfer

Matt Stead

Mario Balotelli’s free-transfer switch to Nice has been protected by Liverpool who have inserted a 30 per cent sell-on fee, according to a report.

The Italian striker spent just two seasons at Anfield after arriving for a £16million fee in 2014. He spent one of those seasons on loan at AC Milan but the Rossoneri, like many other potential suitors, were not willing to take the controversial frontman on a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old did though finally make a deadline day switch to Ligue 1 side Nice on a free transfer. And while a few eyebrows were raised when Liverpool wrote off the money they paid for Balotelli two years ago, The Independent report that Liverpool have placed a 30 per cent sell-on in the deal with Nice.

It means Liverpool managed to avoid paying the remaining 43 weeks of the player’s £75,000 a week contract – around £3.2million which it would have cost to terminate the Italian’s contract.

Balotelli will likely make his debut for Nice on Sunday night, in a home match against Marseille and Liverpool will be more than happy for the much-maligned forward to make a success of his move to the south of France.

The finer details of the deal mean it is the latest transfer in a series of solid business moves by the club over the summer with Brad Smith and Jordon Ibe both offloaded to Bournemouth for £3million and £15million respectively.

Fringe player Joe Allen was also sold to Stoke for £13million, while Crystal Palace bought squad player Christian Benteke for £26.5million to leave Liverpool’s summer balance sheet in the red by less than £500,000.