Coach of Dubai-based club Al Ahli, Cosmin Olaroiu, has claimed that Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli rejected an offer from his side this summer.
Liverpool are desperate to offload the 24-year-old striker, but are finding it hard to find a buyer for the mercurial Italian international.
A number of Italian clubs have shown an interest in him and want to take him back to his homeland, but most are finding it hard to come up with the finances for the deal.
There has been a suggestion that Balotelli is also attracting interest from the Middle East and those rumours have been given credibility by Al Ahli coach Olaroiu.
He revealed that the club did speak with Mino Raiola, the Italian’s agent, about a possible deal to sign the forward, but claimed that Balotelli rejected their offer.
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“We thought about him and even spoke with Mino Raiola”, Olaroiu told Sky Italia.
“But Balotelli declined our proposal as he wants to join a different team.”
The Italian has found himself sidelined in the Liverpool squad and has been excluded from all of their pre-season squads.
With options such as Christian Benteke and Danny Ings to choose from, Brendan Rodgers is unlikely to find a place for Balotelli in his squad at the start of the new season.
It appears the 24-year-old is surplus to requirements at Anfield.
