Mario Balotelli is a Failure

Sampdoria's Italian-Nigerian attacker Stefano Okaka has reflected on the performance of Mario Balotelli in the Serie A, insisting he was a failure for both AC Milan and Inter Milan.

A week before the summer transfer window slammed shut, Liverpool announced the acquisition of the eccentric forward from the Rossoneri on a long-term contract.

''Is the fact Balotelli left Serie A for England a failure for our football? No, if anything he is the one who failed.

''Does he think great champions were never under pressure? When Ibrahimovic was in Italy, he scored 30 goals per season.

''He mustn't keep looking to blame others. Mario is a great player, but if he had problems in Italy then half the responsibility is his,'' Stefano Okaka said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Having said that, the former Italy youth international reckons that Mario Balotelli can perform to the best of his ability in the English Premier League for his new employer.

''At times in life you need to stop and look inside yourself. The fact remains he is a great player and this new English experience might help him rediscover the hunger he once had,'' Okaka added.

It has not been a dream start for Balotelli on his return to the English Premier League, having failed to find the back of the net in his first two matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.