Former Man City boss Mancini wants Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli back at Inter

Posted Sunday, December 14, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

Roberto Mancini wants a shock reunion with Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli.

Their fall-outs at Manchester City included a training-ground fight.

But Mancini, back at Inter Milan, is still an admirer of Balotelli's talent and believes he is the manager who can get the best out of the Italy striker.

Paris Saint-Germain are also considering a cut-price move for Balotelli if Liverpool would do a deal at £8 million.

PSG, who have a long-standing interest in Balotelli, will be in the market for a striker next year if Edinson Cavani finally moves on.

Mancini, meanwhile, will have to convince the hierarchy at Inter that the controversial Balotelli should be brought back to the San Siro, where he also played for AC Milan. Balotelli, 24, could return to the Liverpool side at Manchester United today after a groin injury.

FLOP: Mario Balotelli has not taken to life with Liverpool

But his Liverpool days look to be numbered as he has failed to make an impact since his £16m move from Milan in the summer.

Balotelli has not scored in the Premier League this season and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has indicated that a decision will be made on his future at the end of the campaign.

Balotelli has accepted a A charge in relation to making racist and anti-semitic comments on social media but has offered mitigation for his actions, Press Association Sport understands.

The Italy international was charged a week ago with breaching FA rule E3(1) as a result of his posting of an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram which included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew".

FALL-OUT: Balotelli and Mancini had a checkered relationship together at Man City

His offence was deemed to be an 'aggravated breach', as defined by rule E3(2), as it included a reference to ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality or religion or belief.

However, the 24-year-old has not requested a personal hearing but has instead submitted written mitigation.

The striker apologised for the posting last week, writing on Twitter: "I apologize if I've offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context (it) may have the opposite effect."

Balotelli deleted the offending post as criticism began to mount but FA guidelines state that "deleting an inappropriate posting, whilst advisable, does not necessarily prevent disciplinary action being taken".

The minimum ban for a race-related on-pitch offence is five matches, but that would not apply in a case such as Balotelli's, for which no specific punishments are outlined.

Liverpool and the striker will hope any punishment is lenient, particularly as he has just returned to training after being sidelined by a groin injury since November 8 and could be in line to rejoin the squad for Sunday's clash against arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.