Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has revealed that Mario Balotelli didn’t come close to returning to the club last summer.
After a disappointing first season back in England, Liverpool were desperate to offload the striker during the last transfer window and AC Milan secured a season-long loan deal for the forward.
However, before the Rossoneri came calling for Balotelli, there was speculation that Roberto Mancini was considering taking the Italian back to the Nerazzurri from the Reds.
Mancini worked with Balotelli at Inter and Manchester City and was claimed to have been confident of reviving the mercurial striker’s career, but the Inter sporting director rubbished the speculation.
While he did admit that there were some talks in the background, Ausilio stressed that the possibility of Balotelli returning to Inter was always slim and a deal was not considered.
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The Inter sporting director told Gazzetta TV: “Every now and then there was a phone call, but there never was a possibility of his return [to the club]."
Balotelli impressed during his first few matches for the Rossoneri and even scored a league goal, before he sustained a groin injury.
He underwent surgery yesterday to repair the damage and is expected to be out of action at least until the winter break in Italy.
