Liverpool FC finally acquired a possible replacement for Luis Suarez after getting Mario Balotelli via a £16 million deal with AC Milan on Monday.

Liverpool announced the deal on their official website after Balotelli successfully passed a two-part medical examination in Manchester and Liverpool during the weekend.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who has been looking for a striker after Suarez moved to Barcelona this summer, is confident that that the move will work wonders for them in the current English Premier League season.

"This transfer represents outstanding value for the club and I think we have done a really smart piece of business here," Rodgers said on Monday. "There is no doubting Mario's ability; he is a world-class talent and someone who, for such a young age, has vast experience of playing at the very highest level."

Balotelli scored 18 goals in all competitions for AC Milan last season. The 24-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world, but his ability to score goals is usually being overshadowed by his uncanny behavior.

Analysts said that Liverpool made a big gamble in acquiring Balotelli, considering his previous history of bad behavior, but Rodgers is convinced that he can handle the Italy international well.

"I believe we have the infrastructure, culture and environment to get the best out of him and help him achieve his true potential," Rodgers said. "We are a strong group here, committed to hard work and he will benefit from being around it. I am looking forward to working with him and helping him learn more, improve and progress as a player."

Balotelli will make his return to the English Premier League less than two years after moving from Manchester City to AC Milan. He said that he is excited to be back in England, reiterating that leaving the Premier League in January 2013 was a mistake.

"I'm happy to be back because I left England and it was a mistake. I wanted to go to Italy but I realized it was a mistake. English football is generally better. English football is beautiful," Balotelli said on Monday via Liverpool FC website.

Balotelli is expected to make his Reds debut on Sunday against Tottenham as the move was not completed in time to make him available for Monday's match against Manchester City.

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