Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp not thinking about Mario Balotelli return

Jurgen Klopp has played down the idea that Mario
Balotelli is in line to make a return to Liverpool.

Balotelli, 25, re-joined AC Milan on a season-long
loan in the summer, with no agreement currently
in place to make the move permanent.
After a disappointing season at Liverpool that
brought the £16 million acquisition only one
Premier League goal, Balotelli was told to find a
new club by former Reds manager Brendan
Rodgers.

Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola, though, suggested
last week that he would seek talks with Klopp to
establish whether the striker featured in the new
manager's plans.
However, Klopp told a news conference on
Monday that there are currently no plans to bring
the former Manchester City player back into the
fold, even with Liverpool looking in need of extra
attacking options.

"At this moment I don't have the time and
capacity to think about things for next summer,"
Klopp said.

"Maybe his agent says this and we will have a talk
with his agent, but it's nothing I can think about
in this moment. I am just thinking about what we
can change in this moment."

Raiola had told Sky Sports News it was possible
his client could return to Merseyside.
"Theoretically and by law, yes," Raiola said. "He's
owned by Liverpool so at the end of the season he
should go back to Liverpool."

Asked if he planned to speak to Klopp soon about
that possibility, he said: "For sure. That is part of
my job, to speak to all the managers. I know
Klopp from [representing] Henrikh Mkhitaryan at
Dortmund.

"If we talk about the quality and the talent Mario
has, that is without question. Then you also need
a manager that believes in you and gives you the
chance to prove yourself. We will talk to him
when it is time to talk to him."
He admitted, though, that Balotelli would have
work to do to persuade those at Anfield he was
worth having back, with questions over his work
rate in addition to the lack of goals.
"He had to go away because with Brendan there
was no possibility to develop anymore," said
Raiola.

"There was a preconception towards Mario
and I think from his private part of life he has
proven them wrong. But we have to be realistic.

He didn't perform well in 2015 and 2016 needs to
be his year. That is his challenge."