Balotelli agent drops hint on striker’s next move

Mario Balotelli: Still in talks with Nice

Mario Balotelli’s agent  has denied holding talks with Besiktas over a potential transfer  – and says the Italian has set his sights on turning around his career at Liverpool.

The Reds are keen to offload Balotelli, but have yet to find a club interested in taking the Italian off their hands, with Besiktas reportedly snubbing the opportunity to sign him last week.

However, his agent Mino Raiola, speaking to Goal, has denied a move to Turkey was ever on the cards and says the player has set his sights on returning to Anfield next season.

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“I have not discussed Mario with Besiktas and I have never spoken to any Turkish media about that,” Raiola said. “I said last year they are the worst for writing lies and that is again the case.”

Balotelli, who was joined the Reds in a £16million deal from AC Milan in 2014, has only managed to score one league goal during his time at Anfield and is well down Jurgen Klopp’s pecking order, having been brought to the club under the reign of his predecessor, Brendan Rodgers.

But Raiola believes the player, who spent the 2015/16 season on loan with former club Milan, can still forge a career on Merseyside and added: “His option now is Liverpool, and that is a great option.”