Balotelli's Agent Takes Swipe at 'Disrespectful' Klopp But Still Open to Business With Liverpool

Agent Mino Raiola has taken a fresh swipe at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, just days after calling the German a 'piece of s**t' over his treatment of Mario Balotelli.

Speaking onTalksporton Monday, Raiola doubled down on his earlier criticisms of the Reds boss, insisting that he should have given the Italian striker a chance at Anfield this season before deciding to offload him.

Mino Raiola, agent of Balotelli, Pogba and Ibrahimovic, is LIVE on talkSPORT right now: https://t.co/MMbbE3PDhu pic.twitter.com/GrvwBX3624

Balotelli left on a free transfer on transfer deadline day last week, going to Ligue 1 side Nice in an attempt to revive his stalled career after a tricky season on loan at AC Milan.

The Italian spent the summer training with the Reds' Under-23 side, with Raiola saying this week:At the end of the day he [Balotelli] was a player of Liverpool and you need to treat him with respect.

He never considered him for 60 days. Never let him play for 90 minutes. I'm not judging him as a trainer, but you have to let him play.I don't need to go to Klopp to do business. I have no problem to talk to Liverpool. If I have to be afraid of speaking out my mind because I lose a deal, then I lose my powers."

Raiola unhappy with way Klopp treated Balotelli: "He's not a good coach. He didn't understand that Balotelli is, whatever else, a person"

Raiola also defended his famously confrontational style, saying:"I'd rather go through life standing on my feet than walking on my knees."

Over the weekend, the agent - who also represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gonzalo Higauin - said:I'm not trying to judge him as a coach - although, for me, he's not a good coach - but he didn't understand that Balotelli is, whatever else, a person.

"Mario has been exemplary. He never complained about training alone. To say that it was wrong of Klopp would be an understatement. He was a piece of s*** about it.�

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