‘Balotelli’s Liverpool future up to him’

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli's future at Anfield is in his own hands, says Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 24-year-old Italy international is not part of Liverpool's pre-season tour and Rodgers offered no guarantees he will remain at the club.
"I'm not sure, that will entirely be up to Mario," said the Northern Irishman.

Balotelli signed from AC Milan last summer for £16m but has scored just four times for the Reds, who are set to sign Aston Villa's Christian Benteke.

With Liverpool building their pre-season around friendlies in Thailand, Australia and Malaysia, Balotelli has been training on Merseyside, alongside Jose Enrique and Fabio Borini, who both appear surplus to requirements.

Rodgers, who has signed six new players this summer, added: "Mario is obviously not on tour but working hard and training well with a number of other players at Melwood.

"He is working hard to get fit and we will see when the season begins." — BBC