Liverpool flop Balotelli in talks over transfer 8 years after Anfield nightmare

Ex- Liverpool and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is in talks with Brazilian club Corinthians after becoming a free agent last month.

Balotelli's off-field antics during his time in England are probably better remembered than some of his performances. As a promising 20-year-old arriving from Inter Milan, the Italian won the Golden Boy Award, handed out to the best young player in Europe, during his first year under Roberto Mancini.

His spell at City quickly went downhill, with disciplinary issues seeing him leave the club for AC Milan in 2013. Two seasons later, Liverpool took a £16million punt on the striker. That move turned out to be a disaster - and four goals in 28 games saw him head back to Milan on loan the following summer.

After spending time in France, Switzerland, and Turkey, Balotelli looks to be discussing a move to South America with historic Brazilian club Corinthians.

Some have touted Balotelli's stint at Liverpool as one of the club's worst transfers. Luis Suarez departed for Barcelona in 2014 and left behind giant-sized boots that needed filling.

Balotelli became the signing who would replace the Uruguayan, but head coach Rodgers confessed in 2016 that he didn't even want the player, stating: "What we wanted and what we needed was a player who could really press at the top end of the field. It wasn’t just a goal scorer we were after."

"I felt Mario was someone who wouldn’t work for us. But come the end of the summer, we were struggling to get someone who could do the role we wanted. I think the ownership group thought that this could be a player I could develop."

Balotelli also admitted the move was a disaster, speaking to Canal Plus after joining French club Nice in 2017, saying: “It was the worst mistake of my life. Apart from the fans, who were fantastic with me, I must be honest, and the players, who I had a good rapport with.

"I didn’t like the club. I had two coaches, Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp. As people, they didn’t make a good impression on me. I didn’t get along with them.”

Sao Paulo-based club Corinthians are in need of a frontman and have reportedly been in contact with Balotelli. Academy director Claudinei Alves addressed the potential move, stating: "Corinthians are prepared to offer him a two-year contract."

"The [Corinthians] president is the one who is leading talks. He wants three million euros per year and a two-year contract. Balotelli's intention is to return to play for the Italian national team."

This would be the first time Balotelli has left Europe, but for his switch to Adana in the intercontinental Turkey.