FORMER Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has revealed Mario Balotelli was a "disgrace" in training.
The former Southampton forward questioned then-boss Brendan Rodgers decision to allow him get away with it.
The ex-England striker, now 38, has claimed he knew he'd never be the leading man at Anfield because of the Italian maverick.
Lambert played just one season at Liverpool. He revealed he was nearly sold to Crystal Palace just weeks after joining the Reds.
The striker was brought in from Southampton to replace Luis Suarez, who had left for Barcelona after helping Liverpool to second in the Premier League in the 2013-14 season.
Lambert told the Bristol Post: "Brendan Rodgers brought in Mario Balotelli and put him in ahead of me.
"It did my head in to be honest. I couldn't understand.
"The way he used to train was a disgrace. Off the training pitch he's quite infectious, a lovely lad. But his persona on the training pitch is not good.
"When he played he did try, and I have come across players with that attitude before, but they are usually good enough to get away with it, but he wasn't.
"I just didn't understand how Rodgers was letting him get away with it, and picking him ahead of me.
"It affected me directly, but it had a negative impact on the team."
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