Mario Balotelli hoping for AC Milan return

AC Milan are on the brink of bringing Mario Balotelli back to Serie A on a season-long loan deal, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is reported to have met with the Italian striker in Florence on Saturday, the day before his side’s first game of the season at Fiorentina.

It is not yet clear whether Balotelli will be in the stands at the Stadio Artemio Franchi to see his former club in action, but Milan’s general manager Adriano Galliani hinted that there could be some truth to the reports.

“I’m not going to comment, but like (Italian singer) Antonello Venditti once said, there are certain loves which go such a long way and then they come back,” he said. “And I and the president are both romantic people.”

Balotelli spent two seasons with the Rossoneri before moving to Merseyside last year. He made 43 Serie A appearances for the Milanese club, scoring 26 goals.

Liverpool are looking to offload Balotelli after he found the back of the net just once in the Premier League last season.

If they are unable to find a new club for him, they will have to pay a substantial bonus payment, even though coach Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he does not see any space for the 25-year-old in his side this season.

Balotelli enjoyed his time in Milan, both with the Rossoneri and their city rivals Inter, and a return could boost his chances of returning to the Italy squad in time for Euro 2016.

It was under Mihajlovic that he made his breakthrough in an Inter shirt, when the Serbian was assistant to Roberto Mancini at the Nerazzurri. ESPN