By Harvey Byrne
Mario Balotelli has departed Anfield for French Ligue 1 side Nice on a free transfer – and Liverpool fans took to Twitter to celebrate his departure.
The 26-year-old Italy international striker was confirmed as a Nice player on the club’s official Twitter account on Wednesday just hours before the transfer window shut.
The striker was deemed surplus to requirements under Jurgen Klopp and the controversial forward was even kept away from the first team during the summer’s pre-season.
#BenvenutoMario pic.twitter.com/gxwatH7xDm
— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) August 31, 2016
The German manager has looked to clear out several players left in his squad this summer after Brendan Rodgers’ reign, including Christian Benteke, Joe Allen, Martin Skrtel, Kolo Toure and Balotelli.
Fans took to social media to celebrate Balotelli leaving the club, with many making light of the whole situation.
Here are a selection of their messages on Twitter:
I'm so happy Balotelli has left I might celebrate by setting off some fireworks in the bathroom ???????? @LFC #lfc #balotelli #TransferDeadlineDay
— Stefano Rinaldi (@Rinaldi_27) August 31, 2016
Well, how wrong I was. Thought #Balotelli wasn't too much of a gamble 2 years ago as he'd retain 'some' transfer value! #LFC
— Kevin Pogorzelski (@RabbitRabbitOn) August 31, 2016
Balotelli on a free ???? that was the worst £15m gamble since Nick Leeson took a punt on the Japanese stock market #LFC
— Chris Williams (@Chris78Williams) August 31, 2016
What a joke Balotelli was for #LFC: as read somewhere else, always champagne corks popping when he joins and leaves his clubs
— Ian Foster (@ianfoster_motd) August 31, 2016
Lessons to be learned re: splurging for erratic forwards. Andy Carroll, Balotelli, Benteke. Sunk in yet? #LFC https://t.co/XyhHTZl5Dw
— Alan J. (@alanj80) August 31, 2016
Farewell Balotelli you narcissistical mess. My fondest memory of you is right now, nowhere near #LFC #DeadlineDay In. A. Bit.
— Andy Yates (@andrewjames253) August 31, 2016
YESSSSSS ! We've finally got rid of Mario Balotelli ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? #TransferDeadlineDay #LFC
— Nick Spargo ???????????????????????????? (@Spargz) August 31, 2016
Finally have got rid of Balotelli! Can't say you will be at all missed #LFC
— Michael Leckie (@mleckie15) August 31, 2016
Balotelli moved to Liverpool in a £16million deal from AC Milan in the summer of 2014.
During his two-year stay at the club he played in just 28 fixtures scoring four goals.
The attacker returned to Milan last season on loan, but he also struggled to recapture his form scoring three goals in 23 appearances.
Once considered a bright prospect the now 26-year-old Premier League winner will be looking to revive his career once again with Nice.
In other Liverpool transfer news, Stan Collymore and Jamie Carragher have given scathing assessments of Balotelli’s transfer to Nice.
