MX23RW : Friday, December 20 14:40:12| >> :60:2792:2792:

Brendan Rodgers brushes off rumours about Mario Balotelli's Liverpool future

Brendan Rodgers says that Mario Balotelli is "still very much" a Liverpool player amid rumours that the controversial Italian could be sold in January.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has played down rumours that the club are considering selling Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window.

The controversial Italian has failed to make a significant impact at Anfield, having scored just twice following his £16m move from AC Milan in the summer.

As well as his lack of form on the pitch, away from it, Balotelli is facing FA punishment after an Instagram post was deemed to be racist and anti-Semitic.

"He's still very much a Liverpool player but he's injured at the moment and there's nothing more to add," Rodgers told reporters in today's press conference.

"He's not fit to play and my concentration is on players who are fit and available to play and that's my only thinking at the moment."

Reports emerged earlier today claiming that Balotelli has had phone calls with Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini regarding a possible return to Serie A.

ID:191760: cacheID:191760:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2109:
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Italian forward Mario Balotelli is pictured during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Hull City at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, northwest England, on October 25, 2014
Read Next:
Balotelli, Mancini discuss Inter return?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Broncos
27-34
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!