Sampdoria would sign Mario Balotelli

Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has revealed that he would be willing to sign Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli.

The 24-year-old has struggled to make an impact since moving to Anfield from AC Milan last summer.

Ferrero believes that Balotelli has lost his desire for football and needs to choose a more modest lifestyle at Sampdoria in order to rediscover his best form.

"I'd sign him," Ferrero told Gazzetta TV. "If he came to Sampdoria, he would come back to his usual standards. Here nobody would bother him if he missed a goal, he would be quiet and happy.

"In my opinion he's not hungry anymore, he earns €4m (£2.9m) a year. We should put him on bread and water, give him a Bianchina rather than a Ferrari. Then I'm sure he would score again."

Italy international Balotelli has scored four goals in 25 appearances for Liverpool.