Mario Balotelli could return to Liverpool after failed loan spell at AC Milan
Mario Balotelli could move back to Liverpool after failing to impress at AC Milan this season. The Reds had signed the Italian striker for £16m in the 2014 summer transfer window but he had failed to get going, scoring just four times in 28 matches before he was sent on loan back to Milan for the 2015/16 season.
But things have not gone according to plan for the 25-year-old who has managed to play only 435 minutes in the Italian Serie A this season. In all, he has scored only three goals in all competitions – a far cry from the 18 goals he scored in the 2014/14 season which included 14 in the league.
Much relied on Balotelli having a good season for the Milan club to make his transfer permanent. But a groin injury at the start of the season that required surgery did not help his case.
To make matters worse for the former Manchester City striker, summer signing Carlos Bacca has been in fine form up front while Luiz Adriano has also seen his form improve in recent games. Manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has barely used Balotelli and is not keen to use him in his matchday squad.
Balotelli hasn’t done enough to deserve a contract: Adriano Galliani
Speaking about the striker’s situation, Milan’s chief executive Adriano Galliani said: “Mario is fine now. He has a crazy desire to stay at Milan, and I hope he proves it on the pitch.
“Mario wants to stay here, but I’ve told him that based on what he’s done so far, he doesn’t deserve to stay here.
Galliani also said that Balotelli was loved by the Milan club but he had to convince the club that he belonged there with his performances on the pitch.
“I told him to convince us to keep him here because we love him. He promised that he’ll do that, and I hope he does.”
Even Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola had said that the player’s attitude was no longer an issue but that the injury had held him back.
Raiola mentioned that Balotelli would “give everything to convince Milan to earn a spot at Euro 2016.”
“For the first time, you cannot say anything about Mario's behaviour,” Raiola said.
“After the injury, he failed to get going. At this point it is more important that Mario is smiling again on the field. Privately he already does, but not enough.
“Of course, he needs a boost,” he concluded.