Intro:

FIFA's Gerard Houllier talks in St Petersburg, Russia on Wednesday about Liverpool's Mario Balotelli and the international retirement of Frank Ribery (17th September).

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerard Houllier, Head of FIFA World Cup 2014 Technical Support Group (on Balotelli):

"He is a very good centre forward and there is not many class centre forwards like him. If he settles well in Liverpool he knows the Premier League obviously, he will be a tremendous asset for the club."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerard Houllier, Head of FIFA World Cup 2014 Technical Support Group:

"When you lose one of your players and one of the best players - I mean, you should ask Deschamps, but obviously it is a pity particularly two years before the European championships will be organised in France."