Mario Balotelli bids adieu to AC Milan teammates as he looks set for Liverpool

A move from AC Milan to Liverpool appears imminent for Italy striker Mario Balotelli.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, right, appears to be targeting Mario Balotelli to form a strike pair with Daniel Sturridge. Maurizio Dell'Innocenti and Peter Powell / EPA

Mario Balotelli’s rollercoaster ­career took another twist late on Thursday when he said goodbye to his AC Milan teammates after training before an expected transfer to Liverpool.

In a brief statement on their website, the Italian club said: “Mario Balotelli drove out of Milanello at 1330 after saying goodbye to his teammates and the club’s press staff.”

Balotelli’s likely move signals a return to the English Premier League, where he shone, glowered, delighted and dismayed in equal measure during his time with Manchester City from 2011 to 2013.

The 24-year-old Italian striker is seen as a natural successor to another colourful and controversial player, disgraced Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who was sold to Barcelona in July for a reported fee of €81 million (Dh395.2m). Suarez, 27, was the Premier League’s top scorer last season with 31 goals for Liverpool before being expelled from the World Cup finals and suspended after biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Balotelli signalled the move when he told reporters that yesterday would be his last day in Italy.

“Today is my last day in Milan and I am going to Liverpool,” Sky Italia reported him as having said.

His agent, Mino Raiola, was believed to be in England to complete a reported €20m deal with Liverpool.

Balotelli joined Manchester City from Inter Milan in August 2010 and, after starring in their 2011 FA Cup final win against Stoke City, played a prominent role in the triumphant Premier League campaign of 2011/12 as they won their first top-tier title since 1968.

After a series of disciplinary problems, including a training ground altercation with the manager Roberto Mancini, he signed for AC Milan in January 2013.

Balotelli impressed for Italy at Euro 2012, where he scored twice in their semi-final win against Germany, and headed Italy’s winner against England in their group stage meeting at this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

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