Sealing the permanent departure of Mario Balotelli this summer, Liverpool protected their asset by agreeing a 30 percent sell-on clause with Nice.

The Italian striker spent just two seasons on the books on Merseyside, including on one loan with AC Milan in 2015/16, before leaving to join the Ligue 1 side on August 31.

This brought to an end a failed gamble by the Reds on Balotelli’s undoubted potential, with the 26-year-old leaving on a free transfer.

Representing a £16 million loss on their outlay in 2014, this was a hugely disappointing move for Liverpool.

However, in the event of Balotelli resurrecting his career at Nice, as former Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa managed last season, the Reds could stand to benefit in the future.

According to the Independent‘s Mark Ogden, Liverpool included a 30 percent sell-on clause in their agreement with Nice.

Therefore, if the French side went on to sell Balotelli for £10 million, for example, Liverpool would receive £3 million of this.

This is a smart move and is likely a safer bet than their other option this summer—which would have seen them pay off the remainder of Balotelli’s £75,000-a-week contract.

With 43 weeks left of his deal at the end of the summer transfer window, Liverpool would have had to pay Balotelli around £3.2 million in order to terminate his deal.

This negotiation is the latest in a long line of positive business moves by the Reds over the summer.

Buy-back clauses were reportedly included in deals to sell Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith to Bournemouth, as well as with Sergi Canos’ move to Norwich City.

They also showcased a new hardline stance by holding out for their full valuation in the sale of Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace.

A departure from their previous, limp efforts to secure value in the market, this is a more bold, stubborn approach from Liverpool.

They could, therefore, still stand to gain from Balotelli’s departure, though given his failure with Milan last season, and during his time on Merseyside, this seems an unlikely eventuality.