Joey Barton’s comments on Mario Balotelli were blunt and unforgiving, especially in contrast to the high expectations placed on Balotelli following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Barton took to Twitter during Liverpool’s dramatic League Cup win over Middlesbrough (2-2, 14–13 on penalties) to make his opinion known, saying:
“He’s the biggest myth in world football, guys. But let’s be fair, he has everyone against him.”
He went further by emphasizing how irreplaceable Suarez was:
“People now realize how good Luis Suarez was. I mean, how do you replace that much quality? Certainly not with MB [Mario Balotelli].”
This kind of criticism reflects the skepticism that many observers had when Balotelli arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2014. While Steven Gerrard and others may have expressed support or optimism about his potential, Barton clearly viewed Balotelli as lacking the consistency, work ethic, and impact that Suarez brought to the team.
Balotelli, known for his talent but also for his erratic form and off-field antics, was under enormous pressure to perform. Being labeled a “myth” by a fellow professional like Barton only added fuel to the scrutiny.
Whether or not Balotelli could rise above the criticism and prove himself as a worthy successor would depend on what he delivered on the pitch—something that, as time would show, never quite matched the expectations at Liverpool.
